Protecting British Columbia’s treasured natural resources led to more than $236,000 in penalties under environmental statutes, the latest Ministry of Environment Quarterly Environmental Enforcement Summary (QEES) shows.

The third quarterly summary, which spanned July 1 to Sept. 30, 2015, outlines 28 orders, 66 administrative sanctions, 941 tickets, and 19 court convictions covering violations ranging from hunting and fishing, open burning, dam safety, pesticide and pollution.

In the past 10 years, this is the highest number of tickets issued and amount of ticket fines levied in a third quarter reporting period. This quarter also has the highest number of orders issued in any previous quarterly reporting period.

Notable enforcement action includes issuing 21 Water Act orders following targeted aerial inspections of agricultural operations along the Nicomekl and Serpentine rivers in the Lower Mainland.  Under the Wildfire Act, the Conservation Officer Service issued 221 tickets, resulting in nearly $75,000 in fines, due to province-wide fire bans.

Ensuring compliance with environmental laws and regulations is one of the ministry’s primary objectives. The Province is committed to world-leading environmental protection laws.

QEES demonstrates the government’s commitment to transparency for achieving its environmental protection responsibilities.

To view the full third Quarterly Environmental Enforcement Summary, please visit: www.env.gov.bc.ca/main/compliance-reporting/