EstatePass
Land Use & PlanningABHARD

A property in Alberta has been identified as potentially contaminated due to a former gas station on the site. Under Alberta Environment and Protected Areas regulations, what is the landowner's obligation?

Correct Answer

D) The current landowner may be held responsible for remediation even if they did not cause the contamination

Under Alberta's Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act (EPEA), responsibility for contaminated sites can extend to current landowners even if they did not cause the contamination. The province follows both 'polluter pays' and 'owner responsibility' principles. A Phase I and Phase II ESA should be conducted before purchasing properties with potential contamination, as remediation costs can be substantial.

Answer Options
A
The landowner has no obligation unless the contamination spreads to neighbouring properties, since contamination confined to one's own land harms no one else
B
Only the original gas station operator is responsible for remediation, because liability always stays with whoever caused the contamination
C
The municipality is always responsible for cleaning up contaminated sites, since it approved the original gas station's development permit
D
The current landowner may be held responsible for remediation even if they did not cause the contamination

Why This Is the Correct Answer

Sign up free to unlock full analysis

Why the Other Options Are Wrong

Sign up free to unlock full analysis

Deep Analysis of This Land Use & Planning Question

Sign up free to unlock full analysis

Background Knowledge for Land Use & Planning

Sign up free to unlock full analysis
Sign up free to unlock full analysis

Real World Application in Land Use & Planning

Sign up free to unlock full analysis

Common Mistakes to Avoid on Land Use & Planning Questions

Sign up free to unlock full analysis

Key Terms

EPEAcontaminated sitesowner responsibilityenvironmental site assessment
Was this explanation helpful?

More Land Use & Planning Questions

People Also Study

Practice More Land Use & Planning Questions

Access 540+ Canadian real estate exam questions and pass your licensing exam.

Start Practicing