Residents now have a new way to see where contaminated sites are located across New Brunswick.
The Department of Environment and Climate Change has launched a free online map viewer that provides public access to decades of site information.
“This tool provides transparency and shows the status of contaminated sites across the province,” Environment and Climate Change Minister Gilles LePage said in a government release.
“It gives the public critical information they need to identify potential environmental concerns and make informed planning and development decisions.”
The map includes contaminated site files dating back to the late 1980s.
According to the department, these range from minor incidents, such as motor vehicle spills, to major cases involving significant releases, multiple contaminants and impacts on neighbouring properties.
All new files opened since August 1, 2024, must comply with the province’s Contaminated Sites Regulation.
The department said this requirement is part of its effort to strengthen oversight and ensure consistent standards for managing contamination.
The map viewer was developed in response to the Auditor General’s November 2022 report on the contaminated sites program.
That report made 15 recommendations, including a call for greater public access to contaminated site information. The department said all recommendations have now been addressed.
Officials say the new tool is designed to help residents, businesses and municipalities make better decisions about land use and development by giving them clear access to environmental data.
