Under the Devolution Agreement, the Government of the Northwest Territories released the federal government from historic liabilities for sites that met criteria set out in the agreement. Factors considered were whether the site went through a modern regulatory process, compromising environment assessment regulatory and decision-making, including decisions around securities and in material compliance with the authorities. Prior to devolution, the Government of the Northwest Territories conducted due diligence on Canada's listing the sites, and could find no evidence that the Cameron Hills operation did not meet the criteria. Therefore, the site was listed as a release site. The Cameron Hills site met the criteria, and is therefore considered a release site. Therefore, under the terms of the Devolution Agreement, meaning the Government of the Northwest Territories does not appear to be able to turn the liabilities back to the federal government.

The Government of the Northwest Territories has written to the federal government outlining the situation at Cameron Hills, and the Government of Northwest Territories actions in relation to protecting taxpayers from liabilities in event that there is another mechanism to have Canada take on some responsibility.