Protocol for the Derivation of Environmental and Human ... - CCME

Section 1
The National Contaminated Sites Remediation Program
1.1 Program Objectives
In response to public concern over the potential environmental and human-health effects associated with
contaminated sites, the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) initiated the
National Contaminated Site Remediation Program (NCSRP) in October 1989.
Three main objectives have been pursued by federal, provincial, and territorial government partners
under the NCSRP. First, the program was based on effective application of the "polluter pays
principle", i.e., the party responsible for site contamination will be held liable for its remediation. Federal,
provincial, and territorial governments are reviewing and, where necessary, amending existing laws to
clearly define the liabilities of those responsible for contaminating a site. These legal initiatives will serve
as a preventive measure to significantly reduce future site contamination.
Second, government funded high risk "orphan" site remediation when the owner or responsible party
could not be identified, or was financially unable to carry out the necessary work. Guidance for
consistent remediation of orphan sites was provided by the National Classification System for
Contaminated Sites, the Environmental Quality Guidelines for Contaminated Sites, and Ecological and
Human Health Risk Assessment Guidance.
Third, the program worked with private industry to stimulate the development and demonstration of new
and innovative contaminated site remediation technologies (DSERT). Priority was given to projects (at
the pilot stage) that demonstrate new remediation methods but still required site or field evaluation. The
program also supported the development and demonstration of new or improved technology for site
characterization, assessment, or monitoring. The DSERT program will be discontinued in 1995.
The use and interpretation of terms guidelines, objectives, and standards vary among different agencies
and countries. Previous CCME publications about the NCSRP used the term soil criteria; however, the
term criteria will now be replaced by guidelines for consistency with other environmental media (water,
sediments, etc.). For the purposes of this document, these terms are defined as follows:
Guidelines - Numerical limits or narrative statements recommended to support and maintain designated
uses of soil environment.
Objective - Numerical limits or narrative statements that have been established to protect and maintain
designated uses of the soil environment at a particular site.
Standards - Guidelines or objectives that are recognized in enforceable environmental control laws of
one or more levels of government.
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