He suggested that this could be part a larger picture.
David Karn (spokesman for B.C.s Department of Environment and Climate Change) disputed the conclusions of these papers.
He stated in an email that the Environmental Assessment Office has a robust procedure to review any request to amend an environment assessment certificate.
Collison and his team looked at 23 British Columbian mines that were approved after an environmental review. They were approved between 2002-2020. 15 of these mines required 49 amendments to their operating licences, most of which were requested within three years.
Nearly all of the 98 percent were granted.
The researchers concluded that 20 of the amendments approved were likely to cause water resource damage. The amendments allowed changes to effluent discharge, increased withdrawals of water and damage to fish habitat. One allowed a mine increase its production by 50 percent.
Collison stated that these amendments were not accompanied by any scientific justification, oversight, or monitoring.
He said that it was extremely difficult to find information in the amendment documents that provided quantitative, numerical descriptions of the proposed changes. These were often approved without any followup monitoring or enforcement actions.
This report shows examples of amendments granted despite the B.C. The Environmental Assessment Office acknowledged the lack of information on the effects. One mine was allowed in 2017 to change its tailings storage, on condition that a water plant would be up-and-running a plant that, according to Collison, was not yet operating as of this year.
He stated that there were changes that could have potential serious impacts.
Karn however stated that the paper did a partial investigation.
This research project was based on only documents that were posted to the (assessment offices’) project information site. It does not provide a complete account or information about (its) rigorous assessment process.
Karn stated that amendments are carefully analyzed. First Nations are consulted. Public engagement may also be possible.
Karn stated that amendments will not affect the requirements that proponents must protect environmental values, conditions, and actions as part of their environmental assessment certificates. In many cases, however, they will lead to stronger requirements.
Collison said that the situation has improved in the Province since the 2019 environmental assessment legislation became law. This is because the information has been made more public.
However, he cautioned that his study was very narrow. It only addressed mines, water impacts, and one province. The amendments it considered are still in force.
Collison stated that this is just one piece of the puzzle.
These findings raise doubts about the credibility and reliability of the entire environmental assessment process. Other impacts are worth being considered by researchers.
This report was published by The Canadian Press May 12, 2022.
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Bob Weber, The Canadian Press
