Good afternoon. My name is Seth Cain, and I am the director of the contaminated sites division within the environmental protection operations directorate of Environment and Climate Change Canada. I oversee the secretariat of the federal contaminated sites action plan, which we refer to as FCSAP. This program helps the federal government address its contaminated sites. I am here today to respond to your questions about the FCSAP approach.
FCSAP was established in 2005 as a 15-year program. In 2019, it was renewed for another 15 years, with budget 2019 providing funding for the first five years of this renewed period. It has been funded again through budget 2024. The objective of FCSAP is to reduce the environmental and human health risks from federal contaminated sites, as well as associated liabilities for the Government of Canada.
FCSAP provides funding, guidance and expert support for the cleanup of federal contaminated sites across the country. The program funds federal organizations like the Department of National Defence to undertake assessment, remediation and risk management activities at their federal contaminated sites. The federal organization that manages a contaminated site is referred to as a “custodian”.
Environment and Climate Change Canada has three roles in this program: First, through the secretariat, we provide administrative policy and reporting leadership. Second, as an expert support department, like Health Canada, we provide guidance, training and scientific advice regarding ecological risks, and third, as a custodian, Environment Canada is responsible for the management of its own contaminated sites.
I thank you and look forward to responding to your questions.