For Immediate Release

March 2009 document replaces decisions by Ministry of Environmental staff with political directives

Vancouver, BC – A confidential BC government document provided to the Wilderness Committee this week reveals the provincial government has weakened the authority of Ministry of Environment officials to protect wildlife habitat from industrial developments including independent power projects (IPPs).

The directive, which was signed March 18, 2009, removes authority from the Ministry of Environment (MOE) to say no to impacts on wildlife habitat, such as ungulate winter ranges and wildlife habitat areas, if a development has already gone through an Environmental Assessment process.

IPPs over 50 megawatts go through a BC Environmental Assessment. Critics charge the Environmental Assessment Office, which was weakened in 2002, is insufficient to protect important ecological values. The Office has only once recommended an industrial project be turned down.

It is not unusual for large IPPs to receive environmental certificates in areas that have wildlife protection measures in place – such as habitat designated for key wildlife species such as mountain goats and spotted owls. In the past, if a proponent wanted to go encroach on a wildlife area protected under the Forest and Range Practices Act (FIRPA) they needed an exemption to FIRPA. This exemption application would be appraised and decided by a MOE regional manager.

The leaked decision note reveals proponents wanted assurances that exemption applications would be granted. This led the BC government to remove the authority of MOE staff to say no to exemption requests. According to the document: "the Regional Manager does not have the authority to say no to an exemption request . . . if a Regional Manager does not wish to issue the exemption it would elevate to the Minister".

"It is amazing that the BC government is politicizing the process and weakening environmental standards at a time when there is increasing evidence that IPPs are not being properly monitored and are already subject to lax environmental standards," said Gwen Barlee, policy director with the Wilderness Committee.

The leaked document comes on the heels of news reports this week which shows IPPs are encroaching on wildlife areas, are given exemptions from key environmental regulations concerning road-building and logging, and are engaging contractors with low environmental compliance records.

"This directive turns BCs Ministry of Environmental into yes men and women", commented Joe Foy, national campaign director with the Wilderness Committee. "BC Environmental Minister Barry Penner should be shame-faced. Minister Penner has been saying IPPs undergo rigorous environmental assessment when actually the reverse is true".

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For more information please contact:
Gwen Barlee, Policy Director, Wilderness Committee, (604) 683-8220, cell (604) 202-0322
Joe Foy, National Campaign Director, Wilderness Committee, (604) 683-8220, cell (604) 880-2580