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Useful Contacts

If you have questions or would like more information, please contact the Land Remediation Section.

Site Remediation

Identifying and cleaning up contaminated sites helps minimize negative impacts to human health and the environment. Collaboration with land owners, communities, public organizations and other stakeholders ensures that development opportunities are supported while protecting the health and beauty of our province.

Contaminated sites are a concern because they can pose a threat to human health, the environment and safety. The effects of contaminants on humans can range from minor physical symptoms to life-threatening diseases such as cancer. Environmental hazards can include:

  • Harm to fish, animals and birds
  • Accumulation in the food web
  • Causing imbalance to ecological functions or systems

In B.C., a site is contaminated if its land, water and/or sediment are unsuitable for particular uses. That means it’s an area that has a waste contaminating the soil, groundwater or sediment in an amount or concentration that exceeds environmental quality standards.

Who's Involved

Many stakeholders have a role in managing contaminated sites in B.C. Examples include: land owners, developers, provincial law makers, ministry staff, approved professionals, environmental consultants, lawyers, local governments and scientific experts.