Environment Minister Mary Polak and Energy and Mines Minister Bill Bennett have issued an environmental assessment certificate to AuRico Metals Inc. for the Kemess Underground project, an underground copper-gold mine, which is located approximately 250 kilometres north of Smithers, and 430 kilometres northwest of Prince George in the Peace River Regional District.

Non-domestic users of groundwater in British Columbia will now have until Dec. 31, 2017, to apply for a licence without having to pay the one-time application fee.

Environment Minister Mary Polak and Natural Gas Development Minister Rich Coleman have issued an environmental assessment certificate to NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd. for the Towerbirch Expansion Project, an 87-km-long interprovincial natural gas pipeline between British Columbia and Alberta.

Minister of Environment Mary Polak has issued the following statement in regard to the waste discharge permit held by Cobble Hill Holdings Ltd. for its facility near Shawnigan Lake:

Visitors will soon be able to book more backcountry adventures at Garibaldi Provincial Park, a favourite backcountry destination for outdoor enthusiasts.

The Province, in partnership with the BC Community Bat Program and other concerned groups, are asking the public to be on the lookout for dead or sick bats that may have contracted an invasive fungal disease called White Nose Syndrome.

British Columbia’s Quarterly Environmental Enforcement Summary for the first quarter of 2016 outlines four orders, 15 administrative sanctions, 279 tickets and 25 court convictions for a combined total of over $3.5 million in penalties. 

Environment Minister Mary Polak and Community, Sport and Cultural Development Minister Peter Fassbender have issued an Environmental Assessment Certificate to the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure for the George Massey Tunnel Replacement project, which includes:

Coquitlam is the newest community in British Columbia to be recognized for its collaborative efforts to reduce human-bear conflicts.

The public is encouraged to purchase their new BC Parks plates at Autoplan broker offices and show their support for provincial parks through images of a Kermode Bear, Purcell Mountains or scenic Porteau Cove.