Environmental Law and Liability - Powerpoint Flashcards
What is a Contaminated Site?
An area of land in which the soil or underlying groundwater or sediment contains a substance that exceeds provincial environmental quality standards
List 4 most common hazardous substances found at BC sites
- heavy metals
- chlorophenols
- organic chemicals (PCBs)
- Polychlorinated Biphenyls
How many contaminated sites are listed in the BC Site Registry?
Over 9,000
What three areas of law interact with environmental issues?
- Common Law
- Contract Law
- Statutory Laws (Federal, Provincial, Municipal)
What are the two branches of Common Law?
- Tort Law
- Contract Law
How can Tort Law be used in terms of environmental issues?
Tort law can be used to provide remedies against both individuals and businesses that pollut the air, land, and water to such an extent that it becomes a nuisance
In what situations may landowners or land occupiers have caused a “private nuisance”?
- pollution from land unreasonably interferes with use and occupation by neighbour
- pollution causes actual damage to another property or injury to health
When can a landowner be liable for damages in negligance?
- where his/her conduct falls below a reasonable standard
- standard is that of a “reasonable man”
- damage is reasonably forseeable
What is the primary way to allocate risk and liability in any real estate transaction?
Through contracts
What is the rule of caveat emptor?
Buyer Beware - requires that the purchaser must form his own judgement
What are the federal and provincial statutes that dictate liability in BC?
Federal
- Environmental Management Act (EMA)
- Contaminated Sites Regulation (CSR)
Provincial
- Fisheries Act
- Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA)
What is the definition of a Contaminated Site?
An area of land in which the soil or any ground water beneath it or any underlying sediment contains substances in quantities/concentrations that exceed prescribed risk
How are Contaminated Sites identified?
- Spills
- Land Development
- Site Profile triggers
- Site Investigations
- Site Registry
What is a Site Profile?
Simplified screening form for identifying contaminated sites that is usually prepared by property owner or consultant and filed with the provincial governement
What is the timeline to determine if a site investigation is necessary?
15 days