31.51. A person who permanently ceases an industrial or commercial activity of a category designated by regulation of the Government is required to perform a characterization study of the land on which the activity was carried on within six months of the cessation or within such additional time, not exceeding 18 months, as the Minister may grant, subject to the conditions fixed by the Minister, with a view to the resumption of activity. Upon completion, the study must be transmitted to the Minister and to the owner of the land. A notice of cessation of the activity must be sent to the Minister within the time prescribed by government regulation.
If the characterization study reveals the presence of contaminants in a concentration exceeding the regulatory limit values, the person who carried on the activity concerned is required to transmit for the Minister’s approval, as soon as possible after being informed of the presence of the contaminants, a rehabilitation plan setting out the measures that will be implemented to protect the quality of the environment and prevent adverse effects on the life, health, safety, welfare or comfort of human beings or on ecosystems, living species or property, together with an implementation schedule and, where applicable, a plan for the dismantling of the installations on the land.
The provisions of sections 31.45 to 31.48 apply in such a case, with the necessary modifications.
1990, c. 26, s. 4; 2002, c. 11, s. 2; 2011, c. 20, s. 5; 2017, c. 42017, c. 4, s. 3412.