New Regulations Will Improve Contaminated Site Management

The province is introducing new rules to provide a clearer, faster and easier process for cleaning up contaminated sites.

Environment Minister Sterling Belliveau released the regulations today, March 12, which were developed after extensive consultation.

"We're proud to bring forward the province's first contaminated site regulations," said Mr. Belliveau. "These new rules will encourage the cleanup and redevelopment of contaminated sites to better protect our environment."

The regulations address recommendations made by the auditor general in 2010 and meet another target in the Environmental Goals and Sustainable Prosperity Act.

"Nova Scotia's new contaminated site regulations were developed in a transparent manner, considering the input of many stakeholders," said George Vincent, senior regulatory affairs advisor for Imperial Oil. "The regulations reflect current best practices, are based on sound science and will be a strong enabler to ensuring health and environment goals are achieved while encouraging contaminated site redevelopment."

The regulations ensure that site professionals are qualified to do the work, allow property owners to get a release from further enforcement by the department once a site is cleaned to provincial standards, and support creating an online registry of contaminated properties.

The new rules will come into effect in July 2013.

For more information on the regulations, visit www.gov.ns.ca/nse/contaminatedsites/ .