New Brunswick has over 1,000 contaminated sites needing cleanup: auditor general
New Brunswick's auditor general says the province has a backlog of more than 1,000 contaminated sites dating back 35 years.
In a report released Tuesday, Paul Martin says 75 per cent of the sites haven't been addressed for 10 years or longer.
Martin's report also says the province has no program to deal with orphan sites and the government has not designated an entity to co-ordinate remediation of the sites it owns.
The report says the lack of oversight has potential negative impacts on future liability and the costs of remediation.
As of March 31, Martin says the province has a liability of $50.8 million for contaminated sites.
The audit also found the current process used by the Environment Department does not require a specific timeline for remediation, and the remediation program is not referred to in legislation or regulations.
"Without a clear definition of legislative authority, the department may not be able to enforce the contaminated sites management process in a timely manner," the report states. "This, in turn, may lead to remediation delays resulting in adverse impacts on the environment and human health."
Martin said New Brunswick is the only province in Atlantic Canada with no law or regulation applying to its program for environmental cleanup of contamination.
The audit also found that the province's Environmental Trust Fund, which funds projects focused on protecting, preserving and enhancing the natural environment, had a surplus of almost $41 million as of March 31.
"We were surprised to find that projects are being turned down for funding while a surplus continued to accumulate," the report says.
Martin said the Environment Department has no standardized approach to evaluating funding requests for projects and no clear plan for the surplus, which doubled over the last decade. There's also been no evaluation of the fund's performance or outcomes since it was established in 1990.
"The department needs to clarify its position and develop a transparent plan outlining how and in which circumstances it will use the accumulated surplus," Martin said.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 29, 2022.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.