VICTORIA — The Province of B.C. is looking for feedback on proposals related to water management as it aims to improve the permitting process for the natural-resource sector.
The B.C. government is working to speed up permitting, reduce the backlog of permit applications and help people in British Columbia get shovels in the ground, while maintaining high environmental standards and commitments to the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, a release reads.
As part of this review, a series of surveys about proposed changes are open for public comment. The goal is to capture the public’s feedback, perspectives and thoughts on proposed changes in several key areas related to water management.
An initial 16 topics have been identified for permitting reform. These topics fall under the Water Sustainability Act, Water Sustainability Regulation, Riparian Areas Protection Act, Riparian Areas Protection Regulation and Forest Act.
Topics that will be part of this engagement process include:
- exemption for construction dewatering;
- exemption for constructing ice roads to access restoration sites;
- expediting existing use groundwater applications;
- expanded eligibility for stream restoration;
- low-volume water use without an authorization;
- enhancements to the Riparian Area Protection Regulation;
- strategic use of offset payments to support wetland conservation;
- managing all wetland classes;
- wetland identification and delineation manual and wetland professional accountability;
- administrative penalties timelines; and
- streamlining Forest Act permitting in Ministry of Transportation and Transit right-of-ways.
More information can be found at .
Closing dates vary.
Some surveys will close Oct. 17, while others will close Dec. 12.
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