Email from C. Zacharias-Homer, Re: Public Interest Bonding Strategy Intentions Paper
Notification regarding a new regulatory framework to ensure high-risk industrial projects pay for site decommissioning.
Elena Bolster
Subject: FW: Public Interest Bonding Strategy Intentions Paper
From: Public Interest Bonding Strategy ENV:EX PIBS@gov.bc.ca
Sent: Thursday, April 11, 2024 1:27 PM
Subject: Public Interest Bonding Strategy Intentions Paper
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Good afternoon:
The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy (the ministry) is writing to notify you that an intentions paper on the Public Interest Bonding Strategy is posted and broad engagement on policy intentions is commencing.
The ministry intends to introduce a new regulatory framework under the Environmental Management Act to ensure high-risk industrial projects, not British Columbians, plan and pay for decommissioning and closure of their sites, even if abandoned.
The ministry’s proposed policy is outlined in the intentions paper, which summarizes potential areas for regulatory and policy changes. Consultation with First Nations and Indigenous organizations, industry partners, local governments, members of the public, non-governmental organizations and other interested parties will help shape the approach going forward.
The intentions paper is available on the B.C. Government engagement website: https://engage.gov.bc.ca/govtogetherbc/engagement/public-interest-bonding-strategy/.
With the release of the intentions paper, the ministry will seek your input through several upcoming engagement opportunities. The ministry is holding engagement sessions with the public and sessions for First Nations and Indigenous organizations. The sessions will provide an overview of the intentions paper and offer an opportunity to ask questions. You can provide feedback on the intentions paper through an online feedback form on the engagement website.
Please visit the website to review the intentions paper, register for webinar sessions and submit comments and feedback. Information gathered during this engagement initiative will be summarized in “What we heard” reports and will be available to the public after the engagement period.
If you are receiving this communication as an association contact, please distribute this to your members as appropriate. Additional questions or comments about the Public Interest Bonding Strategy, can be submitted to PIBS@gov.bc.ca.
Thank you for your time and consideration – we look forward to receiving your comments.
Sincerely,
Christa Zacharias-Homer
Director, Clean Air, Integrated Pest Management, and Bonding at Christa.ZachariasHomer@gov.bc.ca, 778 698-4911