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VICTORIA – Changes to B.C.'s mining legislation introduced today under Bill 54, the miscellaneous statutes amendment act (No. 2), aim to streamline processes and encourage mineral exploration by clarifying rights and cutting red tape, Energy and Mines Minister Richard Neufeld said.
"We are working to eliminate unnecessary burdens, making it easier, more secure and more cost-efficient for miners to operate in this province," Neufeld said. "We're making changes to show we mean business when it comes to revitalizing mining in B.C."
Several amendments to the Mineral Tenure Act and the Mines Act were introduced today under Bill 54.
Changes to the Mines Act include:
· Allowing the chief inspector of mines to authorize permit exemptions for low-level mining exploration activities if the proposed work meets regulation criteria. This will create a more transparent exemption process and a shorter turnaround on authorizations for eligible mineral exploration sites.
· Exempting pits and quarries from the requirement for a Mines Act permit when associated with authorizations issued by another provincial agency. This will remove red tape and overlap, increasing the overall efficiency of the regulatory process for aggregate operations.
Changes to the Mineral Tenure Act include:
· Creating a two-zone system that defines lands as either open or closed to mining. This will ensure mining applications will be considered, subject to all applicable laws, anywhere but in a park, ecological reserve, protected heritage property or an area where mining has been prohibited by an order under the Environment and Land Use Act. This system will provide certainty about where mining is permitted. Mining activities in these areas will remain subject to all required environmental regulations and approvals.
· Clarifying a titleholder's responsibilities when operating on private land. This change allows the mediation and arbitration board to resolve conflicts and establish compensation when a titleholder proposes to explore on private land.
· Allowing the chief gold commissioner to reinstate a mineral title that has expired. This change provides a legal mechanism to revive a mineral title that has unintentionally been allowed to expire.
"These changes show that the government is making good on its commitment to restoring confidence in the mining sector," said Gary Livingstone, president and CEO of the Mining Association of B.C. "They are a positive step towards putting B.C.'s mining industry back on the map."
The proposed changes support government's New Era commitments to encourage mineral exploration and cut red tape and regulatory burdens by one-third within three years.
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Contact:
Regan Hansen
Communications
Ministry of Energy and Mines
