Policy & Positions Manual
Provincial Issues - Environment
Affordability of Site Remediation Process (2009)
B.C. has a process for the government to ‘certify’ sites as remediated. This process is not only expensive, it is also steadily getting more expensive, to the point where the value of land outside the Lower Mainland and a few other enclaves in the province will not support the cost. In many cases, the physical costs of remediation are less than the consulting and regulatory fees. Once $50,000 was expensive, but even the most basic certification now will generally cost over $100,000 exclusive of remediation costs. Without provincial certifications, lenders won’t lend and municipalities can’t permit redevelopment. The process, intended to reduce environmental risk, now seems driven by minimizing the risk of consultants, municipalities and fiduciaries.
Unfortunately, there is no obvious solution to this continued slide. A Minister’s Panel struck in 2003 recommended improved application of science and privatization as a partial resolutions of what was already a problem, but progress on science and increased privatization of the system has perversely seemed to have the inverse effect. In consequence, remediation of contaminated sites in many parts of the province makes no economic sense for the landowner, and is ruinously expensive for those who are defined as responsible parties where it has to go ahead. The current situation exacerbates the ability of small communities to revitalize downtown areas, discourages remediation, and drives development to green field sites, promoting sprawl.
The Chamber does not believe there is any party at fault on this issue, the current situation has arisen as a result of all stakeholder pursuing their individual legitimate interests. The collective interest of seeing sites remediated and brownfields redeveloped will happen less and less, to the detriment of everyone involved. Addressing this formidable challenge is made more difficult by the fact that those with the knowledge to understand the problem and develop solutions also have individual commercial/institutional preferences that must be overcome.
THE CHAMBER RECOMMENDS
That the Provincial Government convene a stakeholders group, including representatives of the key technical staff at the Ministry (Land Remediation Group), staff from Ministries with related responsibilities, business representatives, municipalities, lenders, consultants to develop concrete, realistic strategies to make the land remediation program in B.C. work for the entire province.
