AME BC Submits Recommendations for the Natural Resource Road Act
During the fall, the Association for Mineral Exploration BC participated in consultation regarding proposed legislation called the Natural Resource Road Act. AME BC fundamentally believes that all roads, especially resource roads, should be considered a public asset and therefore should be retained for the use by all British Columbians. AME BC believes that government should be developing stronger policies around road stabilization and limited liability, and that road deactivation should be undertaken only as a last resort. AME BC supports any efforts by government to provide additional information and opportunities for further review and input. Click here for a link to their submission.

California Clean Air Rules Could "Wipe Out" Hydro's Export Revenue
Carbon cap-and-trade regulations will boost cost to B.C. consumers: economist
By Gordon Hamilton, Vancouver Sun, January 4, 2012
California's new carbon cap-and-trade regulations, which came into effect January 1, will require BC Hydro's power exporting arm to buy costly carbon credits on its energy exports beginning in January 2013, likely wiping out Hydro's primary export market and increasing the cost of electricity to B.C. consumers in the process, a B.C. energy economist said Tuesday. Read more.

"Secret" Report Elevates Oilsands Fears
Contamination of a major western Canadian river basin from oilsands operations is a "high-profile concern" for downstream communities and wildlife, says a just-released "secret" presentation prepared last spring by Environment Canada that highlighted numerous warnings about the industry's growing footprint on land, air, water and the climate.

The warnings from the department contrast with recent claims that were made by Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Environment Minister Peter Kent that the industry is being unfairly targeted by environmentalists who exaggerate its effects on nature and people. Read more.

Publication of Fines in Forest Industry
The Vancouver Sun recently launched a freedom-of-information request related to compliance-and-enforcement action taken against logging companies over the last five-year period in the Quesnel and Prince George forest districts, part of a lengthy investigation by The Sun into salvage logging of pine forests. To view the full package of documents released to The Sun through freedom of information, visit here. Source: The Vancouver Sun.

Regulating the Road Less Travelled
BC has laws governing mining roads, other laws governing forestry roads and still other laws governing oil and gas roads. And historically there’s been no real coordination between the companies building these different roads. As a result, BC has an estimated 400,000 to 550,000 kilometres of unpaved resource roads (the government itself doesn’t know how many, and where they’re all located). West Coast Environmental Law recently submitted their comments on BC’s proposed Natural Resource Roads Act – a piece of legislation intended to better coordinate, and standardize the rules for the building and maintenance of resource roads. Click here to view full article as published by West Coast Environmental Law.