Crown Contaminated Sites Program

The B.C. government regulates contaminated sites throughout the province, including private land and Crown land. The Crown Contaminated Sites Program manages prioritized, risk ranked, high-risk contaminated sites on Crown land for which there is no existing responsible party.

These are typically remote, unpermitted historic polymetallic mine sites and make up a small fraction of the contaminated sites on Crown land. Site investigations and remediation activities follow technical guidance and legislated protocols.

Other provincial ministries and Crown corporations with responsibilities for permitting and management of land and resources on private and Crown land also have oversight and management roles related to contaminated sites. These responsibilities encompass forest tenures, land tenures, mining, transportation and infrastructure, real property, electricity, oil and gas.

For more information on the program, please see the Crown Contaminated Sites Program Biennial Report (PDF, 25MB).