ENVIROFOR REPORTER

ENERGY AND MINES NEWS
News: $10 Million for May Oil and Gas Rights Sale The May 20, 2009 sale of oil and gas rights in British Columbia generated $10 million in bonus bids. Fifty-one parcels covering 31,559 hectares in northeast B.C. were offered, and bids were accepted on 45 parcels covering 20,892 hectares with an average price of $488 per hectare. See the News Release.
ENERGY AND MINES
Act or Regulation Affected	Effective Date	Amendment Information
Energy Efficiency Standards Regulation (389/93)	June 1/09	by Reg 100/2009
FORESTRY AND ENVIRONMENT NEWS
News: B.C. Interior Faces High Risk of Catastrophic Forest Fires Many communities in the B.C. Interior are at significant risk of potentially catastrophic forest fires this summer, because critical prevention work promised by the government has not been done, a forestry expert said this month. See the News Story as reported in the CBC. Ottawa Threatens Fight with U.S. Over Pulp The federal government is threatening to take the United States to the World Trade Organization over alleged subsidies worth $8-billion (U.S.) a year being paid to American pulp mills to produce "black liquor." See the News Story as reported in the Globe and Mail. New Contract Expands Bioenergy Opportunities in B.C. BC Hydro and Tembec have expanded their bio-energy opportunities in B.C. by coming to an agreement which will increase BC Hydro's purchase of clean, firm and cost-effective electricity from Tembec's Skookumchuck pulp mill. See the News Story as reported on InvermerevalleyEcho.com. Efforts to protect fish habitat have been inadequate Fisheries and Oceans Canada and Environment Canada cannot demonstrate that they are adequately protecting fish habitat as the Fisheries Act requires them to do, says Scott Vaughan, Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development, in his Report tabled today in the House of Commons. His Report notes that in the 23 years since the Habitat Policy was adopted, many parts of it have not been implemented by Fisheries and Oceans Canada. See the News Story from the Office of the Auditor General of Canada.
FORESTRY AND ENVIRONMENT
Act or Regulation Affected	Effective Date	Amendment Information
There were no amendments this month.
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Vol: II – Issue: V May 2009

ENVIROFOR NEWS: "Slow Down/Move Over" law takes effect in B.C. on June 1st Beginning June 1, drivers in B.C. will be required to slow down and move over when passing parked emergency vehicles that have their lights flashing. New regulations under the Motor Vehicle Act mean motorists must slow to 70 km/h on highways where the speed limit is 80 km/h or higher - and to 40 km/h where the limit is below 80 km/h - when approaching a stopped emergency vehicle that has its lights flashing. See the Information Bulletin. Carbon Tax Rate Changes Purchasers and users of fuels in British Columbia are advised that carbon tax rates will increase effective July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2010. In addition, deputy collectors or retail dealers are advised that they are required to report their fuel inventory after midnight on June 30, 2009. There is also a change in date to report carbon tax rates on sales invoices from June 30, 2009 to December 31, 2009. See the Consumer Taxation Branch Notice. New EnviroFor Reporter Release Date Please note that EnviroFor Reporters will now be released sometime within the first week of every month. Our rationale for moving the date is to accommodate the ever-increasing number of changes that come into force at the very end or beginning of each month. This Reporter includes the June 1 amendments. The next Reporter is scheduled for release in the middle of July due to an expected slow down of legislative activity and staff vacations. Bill Tracker – Coming Soon! Quickscribe is currently working on a new alert service that will notify you BEFORE important changes come into law. The new feature will also help you keep track of consequential amendments to legislation that you identify as being relevant to your area of interest. Stay tuned… Tip: Log in to EnviroFor Online prior to clicking Reporter links

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