• The B.C. government and the federal government are working in conjunction with local
  governments, First Nations, and the volunteer sector, as members of a Tsunami Debris
  Coordinating Committee.
• This Committee has developed a scalable Tsunami Debris Management Plan that can be
  implemented and updated as circumstances change or new information becomes
  available.
• The plan establishes protocols on how to deal with tsunami debris, identifies roles and
  responsibilities of government and partner agencies, and provides an assessment of
  risks relating to tsunami debris.
• The plan update focuses on how government will work with coastal communities to
  assess and determine specific challenges associated with the collection, removal, and
  landfilling of tsunami debris.
• The plan also outlines several other components including: monitoring and surveillance
  of tsunami debris, establishing a framework for volunteer participation and developing
  protocols for aquatic invasive species
• No one agency or group has the sole responsibility or jurisdiction for responding to this
  challenge. It will require the resources and collaborative efforts of all.
• Committee members are working with local governments, First Nations and other
  stakeholders all along the coast. The Union of British Columbia Municipalities and
  volunteer organizations such as the Great Canadian Shoreline Clean‐up have also been
  engaged, together with U.S. counterparts in governments along North America's West
  Coast and the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
• On March 13, 2013, the Government of Japan gave the Government of Canada a onetime
  grant of approximately $1 million to support clean‐up work associated with
  tsunami debris. This funding will be transferred to the British Columbia Ministry of
  Environment and used to support tsunami debris clean‐up effort in coastal
  communities.

For more information visit the Ministry of Environment Tsunami Debris website:
www.tsunamidebrisbc.ca.

Contact:

Media Relations
Ministry of Environment
250 953-3834