Environmental and Social Responsibilities Flashcards

A professional engineer identifies contaminated soil on a project site. Under most Canadian provincial environmental laws, who bears the primary liability for the remediation of the contamination?

Answer: The current owner or person in charge of the property, potentially including prior owners, regardless of fault (strict liability), in many provinces

Canadian provincial environmental protection acts typically impose strict liability on current owners and persons in management or control of contaminated property, in addition to those who caused the contamination — a form of 'polluter pays' extended to current property interests.

Under Canada's Species at Risk Act (SARA), what protection does a species listed as 'threatened' receive?

Answer: Prohibition on killing, harming, harassing, or destroying the residence of a threatened species wherever it is found in Canada

SARA's general prohibitions (ss. 32-33) apply to threatened and endangered species, prohibiting killing, harming, harassing, capturing, taking, and destroying residence — these protections apply on federal lands automatically and may extend to provincial lands by Order in Council.

What is a 'Phase I Environmental Site Assessment' (ESA) and when is it typically required for engineering projects?

Answer: A records review, site inspection, and interviews to identify recognized environmental conditions — typically required before property acquisition or project approval

A Phase I ESA is a non-invasive assessment involving document review, site inspection, and interviews to identify recognized environmental conditions (RECs), typically required by lenders, regulators, or purchasers before property transactions or development approvals.

Which Canadian provincial or territorial legislation typically governs the professional standards for environmental site assessments conducted by engineers?

Answer: Provincial environmental protection acts and associated regulations, complemented by CSA/ASTM standards adopted by practice

Environmental site assessment standards are primarily established by provincial environmental legislation and associated regulations, with industry practice guided by CSA and ASTM standards. Professional engineers conducting ESAs must meet these standards.

When engineers design infrastructure, what does 'climate change adaptation' require them to consider?

Answer: Designing infrastructure to remain functional and safe given anticipated changes in climate conditions (temperature, precipitation, extreme events) over the design life

Climate change adaptation in engineering design means accounting for projected changes in climate variables — temperature extremes, rainfall intensity, flood frequency, permafrost degradation — so that infrastructure remains safe and functional throughout its design life.

What is the 'polluter pays' principle as applied in Canadian environmental law, and how does it affect engineering practice?

Answer: The principle that those who cause environmental damage should bear the costs of remediation and compensation, creating incentives for pollution prevention

The 'polluter pays' principle holds that those who cause environmental contamination or damage bear the financial costs of prevention, remediation, and compensation — internalising environmental costs into business decisions.