Who We Are

The Environmental Emergencies Program is responsible for the prevention of, preparedness for, response to, and recovery from environmental emergencies involving the unplanned, uncontrolled or accidental release of hazardous substances.  The Program’s aim is to work in collaboration with other agencies to reduce the frequency and consequences of environmental emergencies.

The Environmental Emergency Regulations (E2 Regulations) under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA 1999) promote proper environmental emergency planning so that facilities using hazardous substances are able to prevent, prepare for, respond to and recover from an environmental emergency. The Environmental Emergencies Program assesses substances to determine if, and under what conditions, they should be regulated.  When a facility is using a regulated substance, they must notify Environment Canada, and may have to prepare emergency plans to prevent and mitigate the consequences of a spill when they have certain quantities or concentrations of the substance at a particular site.

The Environmental Emergencies Program is delivered through a national response team in Montreal, Quebec, and a policy and regulation team in Gatineau, Quebec. Additionally, a Senior Compliance Promotion Officer is situated in each Environment Canada region (Atlantic, Quebec, Ontario, Prairie and Northern, and Pacific and Yukon) to promote an understanding of and compliance with the Environmental Emergencies Regulations. Other Environment Canada programs (e.g., Meteorological Services of Canada, Emergency Science and Technology Section, Canada Wildlife Service) with staff across the country provide specialized services on an ongoing basis that are necessary to inform the response to environmental emergencies.

In the event of a polluting incident that requires Environment Canada’s involvement, the National Environmental Emergencies Centre, located in Montreal, provides timely scientific and technical advice to the lead agency that includes:

  • advice on minimizing the impact to shorelines, wildlife and sensitive ecosystems through spill countermeasure advice; 
  • modelling the fate and behaviour of the hazardous substance (e.g., oil, chemicals) involved;
  • weather forecasts and warnings;
  • atmospheric and hydrologic modeling and ice data;
  • sampling and analysis of chemicals after the threat has been removed, and assessing long-term environmental clean-up and remediation needs.  

Environment Canada's expertise in the areas of environmental emergencies science and meteorological forecasting, play a key role in delivery of the program domestically and internationally. Our partners include: 

Emergencies Science and Technology Section (ESTS)

Scientists at the Emergencies Science and Technology Section (ESTS) carry out internationally recognized research and development in the field of environmental emergencies. This supports Environment Canada’s national and international mandate for environmental protection as well as the prevention, preparedness, and emergency response functions of the Environmental Emergencies Program. The section stores and maintains most of the specialized emergency response equipment at its facility in Ottawa, Ontario.

Meteorological Service of Canada (MSC)

Through the Meteorological Service of Canada, Environment Canada protects Canadians by providing timely observations, forecasts and warnings with respect to extreme weather conditions, ice, sea-state and other physical phenomena. MSC's activities provide crucial modeling support for the determination of dispersion and trajectories for nuclear, oil and chemical releases.

Canadian Wildlife Service

Administers and implements Environment Canada’s mandate for migratory birds and other wildlife and habitat. It provides data on migratory birds and species at risk and areas to be protected; conducts surveys of affected or potentially affected areas and the migratory birds populations; coordinates the rescue, triage and treatment of affected migratory birds and endangered species; provides guidance to other agencies and volunteers on the clean-up of migratory birds and endangered species; samples and analyzes oiled and affected wildlife for possible prosecution of the responsible party; assesses the damage to migratory birds and species at risk (and their populations); provides documentation for future cost recovery from the responsible party; and studies affected population to determine the status of recovery and that of the critical habitat.