Environmental assessments are used in British Columbia and around the world to identify
the impacts of proposed major projects. Knowing both positive and negative impacts
is important to identify how effects can be mitigated and to ensure decision makers are
informed when deciding if a project should go ahead.
In B.C., an Environmental Assessment Certificate issued by provincial ministers is required
before a project can obtain other permits. The Environmental Assessment Office, or EAO,
leads the environmental assessment process and administers the Environmental Assessment
Act. The EAO seeks to lead a world class process
that promotes sustainability and supports reconciliation with Indigenous peoples.
In addition to provincial environmental assessments, a federal environmental assessment may also
be required. These are administered by the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada and are
known as Federal Impact Assessments. When a project requires both provincial and
federal approval, the organizations work together to ensure the two processes work efficiently.
Environmental assessments involve Indigenous nations; local, provincial, and federal government
agencies; the public; and stakeholders. Types of projects that may require an environmental
assessment include industrial, mining, electricity, petroleum and natural gas, water management,
waste disposal, transportation, and tourist destination resorts.
The Reviewable Projects Regulation sets out the thresholds for which projects require
an environmental assessment. An environmental assessment examines potential
effects of a project. This includes, but is not limited to: Positive and negative effects
on people and the environment (including environmental, social, economic, health, and cultural effects);
Effects on Indigenous nations and their rights; and, Adverse cumulative effects.
Following extensive engagement, a substantially updated Environmental Assessment Act came
into force in December 2019. The new Act defines the purpose of the Environmental Assessment
Office: To promote sustainability by protecting the
environment, fostering a sound economy, and supporting the well-being of British Columbians
and their communities, and; To support reconciliation with Indigenous
peoples in British Columbia, which includes implementing the United Nations Declaration
on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The Act also includes steps and requirements
to ensure that all environmental assessments will meet the purposes of the office and follow
a consistent, thorough, and transparent process. An Early Engagement phase provides an opportunity
at the beginning of the process to gather input to help shape project development and
identify interests and concerns that will need to be addressed in the environmental
assessment. An early readiness decision follows early
engagement to determine whether a project should proceed with an environmental assessment.
Meaningful public engagement is important to keep the public informed and to help the
EAO understand how a project could impact communities and what they value.
The Act includes four public comment periods and opportunities for the public to become
involved in a Community Advisory Committee, if there is sufficient community interest.
The EAO works collaboratively with Indigenous nations throughout the process and acknowledges
Indigenous nations right to make a decision on consent for a project. If a nation makes
a decision on a project, the Ministers must consider it when they decide whether to grant
a provincial environmental assessment certificate. The Act provides opportunities for collaborative
approaches to assessments in support of Indigenous and provincial decisions.
Each assessment is customized to reflect the scale of the project based on the potential
effects and identified issues within the timelines set by the Act.
The Act includes requirements on what must be assessed and what must be considered by
decision-makers in every assessment. The Act establishes a fair, transparent, and
timely process to ensure that decisions are based on a robust assessment that reflects
public interest and respects the decision making of Indigenous nations.
Environmental assessments are essential for understanding and mitigating potential effects
of major projects. To learn more, visit gov.bc.ca/EAO.