Government of Yukon strengthens environmental protection with new Contaminants Regulation

The Government of Yukon is taking action to protect the environment and safeguard communities by introducing a new Contaminants Regulation under the Environment Act that will repeal and replace the previous Contaminated Sites Regulation and the Spills Regulation.

The new Contaminants Regulation establishes a modern framework that ensures cleanup efforts meet today’s highest environmental standards and supports safe, sustainable development across the territory. By reflecting the latest science and best practices, it ensures contaminated sites are cleaned up responsibly, spill responses are clear and effective and industry has the tools it needs to operate with certainty while protecting the environment.

Key improvements under the new Regulation include:

• updated thresholds for contaminants and spills that align with the latest science and best practices, to improve cleanup and protect the Yukon’s land and water;
• reduced red tape by simplifying approvals and eliminating duplicate authorizations so industry and communities can act faster to protect the environment;
• increased development opportunities by enabling contaminated sites to be transferred to another party so they can be cleaned up and made ready for new development; and
• clear certificates of compliance to confirm when cleanup has been completed, reducing liability and creating confidence in future development.

The new Contaminants Regulation represents a significant step forward in how the Yukon prevents, manages and cleans up contaminated sites and spills. The new Regulation will come into effect on March 1, 2027, to allow for a transition period for industry and government to adapt to the updated framework.