WHITEHORSE—The Government of Yukon will invest up to $3.9 million in 2016/17 for assessment and remediation work at contaminated sites to minimize risks to human and environment health.
“The Yukon government is committed to enhancing the quality of Yukon’s environment for present and future generations,” Minister of Environment Wade Istchenko said. “Remediation will help protect the environment from existing contaminants at these sites.”
Under the 2016/17 Environmental Liabilities and Remediation Program budget, the Yukon government is providing:
• $1.82 million for remediation work at six Yukon government-owned contaminated sites;
• $980,000 for assessment work at up to 15 Yukon government-owned properties across the territory;
• $801,000 for permit-related groundwater monitoring and monitoring well installation at 23 Yukon government solid-waste management facilities and four abandoned dumps; and
• $300,000 for the ongoing remediation work at the Marwell Tar Pit in Whitehorse.
Funding for this work is subject to legislative approval.
The Yukon government owns more than 100 sites where contamination is known or believed to be present. The contaminants at these sites usually consist of salt or petroleum hydrocarbons such as spilled diesel fuel. To date, four sites have been fully remediated under the territory’s Environmental Liabilities and Remediation Program.
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Learn more
Contaminated sites in Yukon
Contact:
Dan Macdonald
Cabinet Communications
867-393-6470
dan.macdonald@gov.yk.ca
Eric Clement
Communications, Environment
867-667-5237
eric.clement@gov.yk.ca
