This paper was presented at the `Transportation-Related Environmental Assessment, Site Audit and Management' session. As an airport facility owner and operator, Transport Canada, has undertaken a variety of intiatives in the area of environmental assessment, site audit and management. Programs aimed at avoiding, or at least minimizing, the environmental impacts of airport activities are firmly established at most Transport Canada airports. In July 1994, Transport Canada issued the National Airports Policy. The National Airports Policy is a major initiative the federal government is taking to bring Canada's transportation system in line with the needs of our nation, now and in the future. Under the National Airports Policy, the federal government will maintain its role as regulator or landlord at major airports but will phase-out its involvement in operations. The major airports will be leased to Airport authorities who will be responsible for airport operations. Regional, local, and small airports will be transferred by sale to a new owner with regional interests. Transport Canada has now switched its focus from environmental audits and site investigations of individual sites for compliance purposes to environmental baseline studies driven by property divestiture. An environmental baseline study is a combination environmental audit and site investigation. The environmental audit portion is used to determine how the operational activities have impacted on the environment. The site investigation is an intrusive investigation to determine the environmental condition of the soil, surface water and groundwater at the time of transfer. (A)
Samenvatting