Every British Columbian has an interest in ensuring that natural resource sector activities are being conducted legally and safely. Now there's a new system that anyone in the Thompson Okanagan region can use to report possible violations.

The Natural Resource Violation Reporting pilot project will launch on March 19, 2014, and run for about six weeks, using a new webpage: www.for.gov.bc.ca/hen/nrv/ and toll-free hotline: 1 844 NRO-TIPS (1 844 676-8477). The pilot project will then be evaluated to determine whether it should be implemented provincewide.

Members of the public can use these tools 24 hours a day to submit reports of suspected violations of up to 46 different resource management acts and regulations, including the Land Act, Water Act, Heritage Conservation Act, Forest Act, Wildfire Act, and Forest and Range Practices Act.

Previously, calls from the public would be received by a multitude of offices. The intent of the new hotline and webpage is to streamline violation reporting, enabling staff to respond more quickly.

The new webpage includes information on what types of concerns and incidents are covered by this legislation, including: illegal cabins or structures; illegal occupation of Crown land (squatting); improper use or development of Crown land; alterations to foreshores or riparian areas of lakes and streams; land tenure requirements; forestry operations; heritage conservation; recreation sites and trails; and irresponsible ATV or motorbike use.

People can fill out a form on the webpage or phone the hotline to submit a report, which will then be documented. The appropriate government office or agency will then be notified to investigate the incident or concern.

With the addition of this new hotline and webpage, there are now three ways to report suspected non-compliance with B.C.'s natural resource-related laws:

• Report infractions through the new Natural Resource Violation Reporting pilot project (in the Thomson Okanagan Region only): www.for.gov.bc.ca/hen/nrv/ or 1 844 NRO-TIPS (1 844 676-8477
• Report wildfires or abandoned campfires: 1 800 663-5555 (toll-free) or *5555 on most cellular networks
• Report poachers or polluters to the Conservation Officer Service: 1 877 952-7277 or #7277 on most cellular networks, or www.env.gov.bc.ca/cos/rapp/form.htm

Quote:

Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Steve Thomson -

"The excellent work done by the ministry's Natural Resource Officers and staff is made easier when individual British Columbians take the time to report concerns about possible violations of natural resource legislation. This new reporting system provides a more streamlined method to quickly bring potential issues to our attention."

Quick Facts:

• There are over 150 Natural Resource Officers currently working throughout the province, completing inspections and conducting investigations to ensure B.C.'s natural resource management laws are being followed.
• The Thompson Okanagan region stretches from Blue River in the north to the U.S. border in the south, and from Lillooet and Princeton in the west to the Monashee Mountain range east of the Okanagan Valley. A map showing the region's boundaries is available online at: http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hen/nrv/images/map_Thompson-Okanagan.jpg

Learn More:

Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations' Compliance and Enforcement Branch: http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hen/

Natural Resource Violation Reporting webpage: www.for.gov.bc.ca/hen/nrv/

A backgrounder follows.

Media Contact:

Greig Bethel
Public Affairs Officer
Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations
250 356-5261

BACKGROUNDER

Natural resource violation hotline and webpage launched

• With the expansion of its natural resource sector responsibilities over the past three years, the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations has experienced a corresponding increase in reports about suspected violations of natural resource management laws and regulations.
• The system will ensure that a violation report is quickly routed to the appropriate agency or office, allowing staff to deal with possible violations effectively and consistently.
• The staff who initially review a report will determine its level of urgency, confirm whether it's the responsibility of Natural Resource Officers (or another agency), and then take appropriate steps to deal with the report.
• All reports and any subsequent actions by Natural Resource Officers will be documented and tracked.
• If people want to submit a report outside of normal office hours about an emergency (where there is an immediate threat to public safety or a life-threatening situation requiring police fire or ambulance), the webpage and the hotline's automated message system will instruct the caller to dial 911.
• The first phase of this system is a pilot project that will be launched in the Thompson Okanagan region on March 19, 2014, and will run until April 30, 2014. All of the data and public feedback collected during this period will be evaluated in mid-April and any necessary adjustments will be made by the end of April.
• If the pilot project is successful, the service may be extended to the entire province later in 2014.

Resource management laws and regulations enforced by Natural Resource Officers

• Creston Valley Wildlife Act
• Dike Maintenance Act
• Forest Act
• Forest and Range Practices Act
• Forest Practices Code of British Columbia
• Heritage Conservation Act
• Land Act
• Motor Vehicle (All Terrain) Act
• Natural Resource Compliance Act
• Range Act
• Water Act
• Water Protection Act
• Weed Control Act
• Wildfire Act

Media Contact:

Greig Bethel
Public Affairs Officer
Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations
250 356-5261