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
What is whooping cough and should Canadians be concerned as Europe declares outbreak?
There is currently a whooping cough epidemic in Europe, with 10 times as many cases compared to the previous two years. While an outbreak has not been declared nationwide in Canada, whooping cough is regularly detected in the country.
Ontario Provincial Police arrest 64 suspects in child sexual exploitation investigation
Ontario Provincial Police say 64 suspects are facing a combined 348 charges in connection with a series of child sexual exploitation investigations that spanned the province.
AstraZeneca says it will withdraw COVID-19 vaccine globally as demand dips
AstraZeneca said on Tuesday it had initiated the worldwide withdrawal of its COVID-19 vaccine due to a 'surplus of available updated vaccines' since the pandemic.
'Summer of discontent': Federal unions vow to fight new 3-day a week office mandate
Federal unions are launching legal challenges and encouraging public sector workers to file "tens of thousands" of grievances over the new mandate requiring federal workers to return to the office at least three days a week in the fall.
Toronto police seek suspect vehicle after security guard shot outside Drake's mansion
Toronto police are seeking help from the public as they continue to investigate a shooting that seriously injured a security guard outside rapper Drake's mansion.
'Ozempic babies': Reports of surprise pregnancies raise new questions about weight loss drugs
Numerous women have shared stories of 'Ozempic babies' on social media. But the joy some experience in discovering pregnancies may come with anxiety about the unknowns.
OPINION What King Charles' schedule being too 'full' to accommodate son suggests
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has made headlines with his recent arrival in the U.K., this time to celebrate all things Invictus. But upon the prince landing in the U.K., we have already had confirmation that King Charles III won't have time to see his youngest son during his brief visit.
Seafood, eat food: Calgary Stampede releases Midway menu
The Calgary Stampede has released its menu of sweet, salty and spicy treats available on the Midway for the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth.
Boy Scouts of America is rebranding. Here's why they've changed their name
After more than a century, Boy Scouts of America is rebranding as Scouting America, another major shakeup for an organization that once proudly resisted change.