Environmental compliance reports

July 25, 2023: Conuma Coal Resources Limited

Conuma Coal Resources Limited received a $900 administrative penalty for failing to provide information requested under Section 109(6) of the Environmental Management Act. The information was requested twice and was needed to verify compliance with their authorizations

Administrative penalty

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July 14, 2023: Town of Lake Cowichan

The Town of Lake Cowichan was given a $700 administrative penalty for failing to:

• conduct daily effluent sampling
• immediately report any effluent toxicity failures

These contraventions occurred from October 2020 to November 2022.

Administrative penalty

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July 12, 2023: Jasean Investments Ltd. dba Ladysmith Home Hardware

Jasean Investments Ltd. dba Ladysmith Home Hardware received a $1,300 administrative penalty for failing to comply with requirements of their license to keep restricted pesticides from unsecured public access.

Administrative penalty

June 19, 2023: Suncoast Industries Inc.

Suncoast Industries Inc. was issued a $15,890 administrative penalty for operating a lumber mill and discharging without an authorization. They were previously warned for this non-compliance on April 2, 2019 and given information on how to apply. The December 5, 2022 inspection showed that they still hadn’t submitted an authorization application.

Administrative penalty

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June 7, 2023: Vintage Views Developments Ltd. and Johnny Joseph Aantjes

Vintage Views Developments Ltd. has been issued 6 administrative penalties totalling $197,453. These penalties are for contraventions of 7 sections of the Municipal Wastewater Regulation including failing to:

1. have a qualified operator
2. notify the Ministry of non-compliances
3. conduct receiving environment monitoring
4. install monitoring wells
5. submit monitoring data
6. meet effluent parameter limits
7. conduct effluent sampling and record flow measurements

Vintage Views has received several warnings, a previous administrative penalty and are currently subject to two pollution prevention orders for the same issues.

Administrative penalty 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 

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May 29, 2023: Western Forest Products

Western Forest Products was issued a $16,800 administrative penalty for allowing waste to be introduced into the environment through the burning/incineration of waste. Western Forest Products continuously burned waste material which included prohibited materials for a two day period. 
Administrative penalty

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May 19, 2023: Loblaw Companies Limited

Loblaws Real Canadian Superstore in Coquitlam received a $8,000 administrative penalty for refusing to accept beverage container returns and issue refunds. They were reminded numerous times of their obligation under the Recycling Regulation and this penalty reflects the 131 day continuous non-compliance from August 27, 2022 to January 4, 2023. 
Administrative penalty

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May 11, 2023: 0160236 B.C. Ltd. (formerly C & C Wood Products)

0160236 B.C. Ltd., formerly C & C Wood Products, has been issued a $12,590 administrative penalty for non-compliance with wood waste landfill discharge conditions including depositing unauthorized materials and failure to cover the waste. A warning was issued on January 31, 2017 and two violation tickets were issued in September 2017.
Administrative penalty

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May 11, 2023: 0160236 B.C. Ltd. (formerly C & C Wood Products)

0160236 B.C. Ltd., formerly C & C Wood Products, has been issued a $1,100 administrative penalty for non-compliance with the annual reporting requirement in their authorization. They were found out of compliance for this requirement in January and September 2017. 
Administrative penalty

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May 9, 2023: District of Fort St. James

The District of Fort St. James has been issued a $1,300 administrative penalty for failing to submit required effluent analysis or flow measurements on 26 occasions during the inspection period. They were found out of compliance for this requirement and received a warning in April of 2020.
Administrative penalty

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May 1, 2023: Madewell Cedar Inc.

Madewell Cedar Inc. received a $12,923 administrative penalty for allowing waste to be introduced into the environment without an authorization. They were previously warned for this same non-compliance in November of 2019 after failing to apply for transfer of the authorization after purchasing the company from North American Shake & Shingle Ltd in 2015. 
Administrative penalty

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April 12, 2023: Columere Park Developments Ltd.

Columere Park Developments Ltd. received a $8,000 administrative penalty for several non-compliances with the Municipal Wastewater Regulation including eight exceedances of fecal coliform, biochemical oxygen demand 5 and total suspended solids limits. Five of the exceedances were in excess of 50% of the limit.
Administrative penalty

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April 4, 2023: Village of Gold River

The Village of Gold River was issued a $1200 administrative penalty for failing to submit analyses and flow measurements for their sewage treatment plant in the last quarter of 2021 and first quarter of 2022. The Village was previously warned for late submissions in January 2020.

Administrative penalty

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April 4, 2023: Tudor Gold Corp.

Tudor Gold Corp. was issued a $12,500 administrative penalty for burning waste and prohibited material at the remote exploration camp near the community of Bell II. Burning of garbage and food waste attracted bears to the site. The material burned included hazardous waste, domestic waste, plastics and metals.

Administrative penalty

March 27, 2023: District of Hope

The District of Hope was issued a $1800 administrative penalty for failing to submit annual reports in 2021 and 2022 for their wastewater treatment system. They were warned for the same non-compliance in August 2019 and April 2021.

Administrative penalty

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March 20, 2023: District of MacKenzie

The District of MacKenzie has been issued a $900 administrative penalty for failing to submit analyses and flow measurement for their sewage treatment plant on seven occasions between August 2021 and August 2022. The District has been previously warned for failing to comply with this section on July 8, 2019 and December 16, 2020.

Administrative penalty

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March 16, 2023: FortyTwo Metals Inc.

FortyTwo Metals has been issued a $1,500 administrative penalty for failing to notify the ministry of any non-compliances with the requirements of their authorization. The failure to comply was repeated on 6 occasions from May 2019 to July 2020. They were previously warned for this same non-compliance in November 2018 and May 2019.

Administrative penalty

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March 9, 2023: Veratec Engineered Products Inc.

Veratec Engineered Products Inc. has received three administrative penalties totalling $97,000 for unauthorized discharge of effluent from their unlined pond into the environment. The effluent failed to meet the BC Water Quality Guidelines for fecal bacteria and metals which has a potential adverse effect to the environment and human health, surface water and groundwater. During one event, exceedances ranged from 3,400% to 17,400%. The overflow was directly discharging towards Howes Creek which is located in the Nooksack River Watershed.           

Administrative penalty 1, 2, 3

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March 7, 2023: K.M.S. Tools & Equipment Ltd. (KMS Tools)

KMS Tools has received a $19,000 administrative penalty for using, selling or distributing paper or packaging products without an approved extended producer responsibility plan. 

Administrative penalty

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March 1, 2023: 518235 BC Ltd. dba Xausa Family Trust

The Xausa Family Trust, which operates a municipal wastewater treatment system for Mill Bay Village Square, has received two administrative penalties totalling $29,000 for non-compliances with the Municipal Wastewater Regulation. These non-compliances included failure to install a suitable flow measuring device and 36 effluent parameter exceedances including biochemical oxygen demand 5, total suspended solids, fecal coliform, turbidity, nitrate and total nitrogen. 

Administrative penalty 1, 2

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February 22, 2023: Kalia Resources Corp. AND Joseph Craig Kitzke

Kalia Resources Corp. AND Joseph Craig Kitzke have received a $43,000 administrative penalty for burning commercial wood pallets in a pit and incinerator which is a contravention of the Environmental Management Act Section 6(3). Kalia Resource Corp. and Joseph C. Kitzke received a violation ticket in 2016 and a $32,000 administrative penalty in 2018 for the same issue. 

Administrative penalty

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February 16, 2023: Lantic Inc.

Lantic Inc., which operates a sugar cane refinery in Vancouver, was given a $32,200 administrative penalty for non-compliances with their authorization requirements. These included exceedances of temperature, biochemical oxygen demand and total suspended solids in the effluent which is discharged to the Burrard Inlet. They have received three warnings and an advisory since 2017 for the same issues.

Administrative penalty

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February 15, 2023: MKY Holdings

MKY Holdings in Abbotsford received a $8,900 administrative penalty under the Integrated Pest Management Act for allowing Tide laundry detergent to enter Clayburn Creek from their commercial moss control operation. This created a potential risk to fish, plants and other organisms in the creek.

Administrative penalty

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February 15, 2023: Joel Properties Ltd.

Joel Properties Ltd. (JPL), who operates a contaminated soil treatment facility and wood processing refuse landfill in Quesnel, has received a $12,000 administrative penalty (AP) in 2020 and 2021. This penalty was for failing to:

• have a plan for monitoring groundwater, surface water, stability, settlement and volatile hydrocarbons
• have the plan prepared by a qualified professional
• conduct monitoring according to the plan

Since 2017 JPL has received 2 advisories, 2 warnings and an additional AP referral in 2022 for the same issues.

Administrative penalty

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February 14, 2023: Christian Robert Hauser

Christian Hauser received a $3,000 administrative penalty for igniting a large burn pile of debris within 70m from a neighbouring residence in a high smoke sensitivity zone on Salt Spring Island. Mr. Hauser had previously been warned by the COS on April 16, 2021 for the same contravention. 

Administrative penalty

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January 31, 2023: Teck Coal Ltd.

Teck Coal Ltd. has received a $864,000 administrative penalty for 48 nitrate exceedances that occurred between January 2019 and February 2021. These exceedances ranged from 6% to 51% over authorized limits. This has been a persistent issue, with 180 nitrate exceedances since Feb. 2015. They have previously received 9 warnings for this issue.

Administrative penalty

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 January 31, 2023: Teck Coal Ltd.

Teck Coal Ltd. has received a $15,480,000 administrative penalty for failing to have the Fording River South Active Water Treatment Facility operational by the required date of December 31, 2018. The water treatment facility is required to treat effluent from the Swift, Cataract and Kilmarnock Creeks for selenium and nitrate, tributaries that have the highest concentrations of selenium in the Upper Fording River. This penalty spans the period from January 1, 2019 to March 15, 2021. Commissioning of the water treatment facility has since been completed and began normal operations July 1, 2022.

Administrative penalty

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January 31, 2023: Teck Coal Ltd.

Teck Coal Ltd. has received a $216,000 administrative penalty for 9 selenium exceedances at Greenhills Operations, Line Creek Operations Fording River and Line Creek Compliance Points. These exceedances ranged from 4% to 25% over the permit limit. Since the issuance of their authorization, there have been 93 daily exceedances and 45 monthly exceedances ranging up to 537% above the permit limit. They have previously received 5 warnings for this issue.

Administrative penalty

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January 26, 2023: Gibraltar Mines Ltd.

Gibraltar Mines Ltd. has been issued a $14,000 administrative penalty for non-compliance with Section 6 (2) of the Environmental Management Act. This was due to an unauthorized discharge of effluent from March 16, 2021 to May 12, 2021.

Administrative penalty

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January 24, 2023: Myra Falls Mine Ltd.

Myra Falls Mine Ltd. has been issued a $16,565 administrative penalty for exceeding permitted discharge limits 5 times at their sewage treatment plant between November 2020 and April 2022. They previously received an advisory in March of 2019 and January 2020 as well as an administrative penalty referral in February 2021 for the same issue.

Administrative penalty

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January 24, 2023: Myra Falls Mine Ltd.

Myra Falls Mine Ltd. (MFM) has been issued a $40,000 administrative penalty for two unauthorized bypasses in January 2020 and October 2021, which lead to a discharge of partially treated mine impacted water to Myra Creek. The January 2020 release was estimated at 250,000L and the October release was estimated at 3000L. Samples taken indicate permit level exceedances during the releases. MFM received a $13,500 administrative penalty in June 2020 for similar bypasses that occurred in 2016 and 2018.

Administrative penalty

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January 4, 2023: City of Prince Rupert

The City of Prince Rupert has been issued a $1,200 administrative penalty. The penalty was for failing to submit annual and quarterly reports to both the Ministry and the Metlakatla and Gitxxala First Nations as required in their Watson landfill authorization. They were non-compliant with the same requirement in and 2017, 2018 and 2019.

Administrative penalty

December 19, 2022: Quesnel River Pulp (QRP)

QRP was issued a $42,000 administrative penalty for failing to comply with discharge characteristics required in their authorization. The authorization requires toxicity testing of their effluent which failed on 7 occasions between June 16, 2020 and December 26, 2020.

Administrative penalty

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November 23, 2022: Bralorne Gold Mines Ltd. (BGML)

Bralorne Gold Mine Ltd. was issued a $102,000 administrative penalty for failing to:

• inspect and maintain equipment
• notify the Ministry of non-compliances
• collect and maintain data of analyses and flow measurements
• submit data and permit exceedance reports

These failures occurred on multiple occasions in 2018-2019.

Administrative penalty

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November 23, 2022: Bralorne Gold Mines Ltd. (BGML)

Bralorne Gold Mine Ltd. (BGML) was issued a $7,500 administrative penalty for failing to comply with the regular sampling and analysis requirements in their authorization on multiple occasions during 2018-2020. BGML has since provided information to demonstrate that successful efforts had been made to correct the issue and prevent it from reoccurring.

Administrative penalty

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November 23, 2022: Bralorne Gold Mines Ltd. (BGML)

Bralorne Gold Mine Ltd. (BGML) was issued an $18,500 administrative penalty for failing to comply with conditions in their authorization related to:

• discharge rates to the tailings storage facility on August 4 and 5, 2019
• exceeding the total arsenic monthly limit in April 2019.

BGML received an administrative penalty previously for multiple contraventions including total arsenic in October 2017.

Administrative penalty

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November 22, 2022: Barkerville Gold Mines Ltd. - QR Gold Mines (BGM)

Barkerville Gold Mines (BGM) near Quesnel, was issued a $16,000 administrative penalty for deliberately discharging mine impacted water to Creek 3 after being advised on numerous occasions that the discharge was unauthorized.

Administrative penalty

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November 21, 2022: G.T. Farms dba Truswell Dairy

G.T. Farms, doing business as Truswell Dairy has been issued 4 administrative penalties totalling $33,100 under the Organic Matter Recycling Regulation and the Code of Practice for Agricultural Environmental Management. Non-compliances are related to:

• operating a compost facility without registration
• lack of record keeping
• failing to cover compost
• failing to manage and store manure properly and
• adding slaughter processing waste from another location to their compost piles

Administrative penalty 1, 2, 3, 4

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November 15, 2022: Wade Allen Lubbers

On May 10, 2021, COS responded to a burning complaint at a property in Smithers. The investigation determined that Mr. Lubbers had contravened multiple sections of the Open Burning Smoke Control Regulation including burning too close the neighbouring residence. Mr. Lubbers was issued a $10,000 administrative penalty as a result.

Administrative penalty

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November 15, 2022: Target Products Ltd.

Target Products Ltd. operates a cement/ready-mix concrete production facility in Abbotsford was issued a $11,000 administrative penalty for 19 unauthorized air discharges.  Target was previously issued an Advisory in 2017 and Warning in 2020 for these discharge sources.  Since they received the Administrative Penalty Notice, Target has hired a qualified professional who has assessed the facility is appropriate for registration under the Code of Practice for Concrete and Concrete Products Industry.

Administrative penalty

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November 11, 2022: Barkerville Gold Mines Ltd. (BGM)

BGM was issued 3 administrative penalties totaling $30,000 for failing to do the following:

• Submit conceptual plan
• Submit a study plan 6 months prior to conducting the 2017 biological monitoring program (BMP), conduct the BMP and submit the report by December 31, 2017
• Provide all information required in their annual report

Administrative penalty 1, 2, 3

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November 7, 2022: West Fraser Mills Ltd. dba Quesnel Plywood

Quesnel Plywood (QP) was issued a $14,000 administrative penalty for exceeding particulate matter limits for their veneer dryer stack in December 2019 and December 2020.

QP was warned previously for non-compliances with this requirement that occurred between 2015 and 2018.

They are now in the process of replacing the pollution control technology, which is expected to be completed in January of 2023.

Administrative penalty

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October 13, 2022: 93 Land Company Inc.

93 Land Company Inc., which operates a poultry litter storage and mixing facility in Abbotsford, received a $29,756 administrative penalty for multiple non-compliances.

These include failing to:

• Have the Quonset buildings enclosed, under negative pressure and have the biofilter installed
• Have the mixing, aeration and loud-out shed under negative pressure with a biofilter while operating
• Erect the signage required at the front entrance of the facility
• Conduct portable monitoring during all operational days or monthly air monitoring

Administrative penalty

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October 6, 2022: Highline Mushrooms West Limited (Highline)

Highline, which operates mushroom growing facilities in Abbotsford, received 4 separate $1,200 administrative penalties (APs) for 3 of their facilities, totalling $4,800.

All APs were for failure to comply with the section of the Agricultural Environmental Management Code of Practice which requires notifying the ministry of existing treatment systems.

Administrative penalty 1, 2, 3, 4

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October 5, 2022: Pinnacle Renewable Energy Inc. (Pinnacle)

Pinnacle in Burns Lake was issued a $1,300 administrative penalty for failing to have a qualified professional sign their Air Episode Management Plan as required in their authorization.

Pinnacle was previously warned for the same non-compliance in September 2019 and February 2021.

Administrative penalty

2022 compliance year in review infographic (PDF, 5.4MB)

Mission

We are inspired to protect the environment by:

• holding individuals and businesses accountable
• verifying compliance with environmental protection laws
• taking timely enforcement action
• focusing on the highest-priority areas
• choosing the best tools to achieve compliance

Environmental Management and Pest Management Acts

Inspections

• 912 inspections done by 25 inspectors

Compliance responses

• 270 notices of compliance, 370 advisories, 221 warnings, 50 administrative penalties, 1 investigation referral

Complaints by discharge type

• effluent 357, refuse 350, odour 159, air emissions 146, pesticides 117
• 1,129 complaints with 97% responded to within 7 days

Administrative penalties levied totaled $2,239,101

Administrative penalties levied per sector by percent:

Integrated Environmental Enforcement Unit

New in 2022, this unit is an equal partnership between the environmental protection division and the conservation officer service that investigates significant complex environmental offences and pursues both prosecution and administrative enforcement responses.

3 officers responsible for:

• 4 active investigations
• 1 completed administrative penalty
• 2 completed investigations

2021 compliance year in review infographic (PDF, 247KB)

Environmental Management Act

Inspections

• 932 inspections done by 18 inspectors

Complaints by discharge type

• effluent 287, refuse 175, odour 242, air emissions 165

Complaints by region

• South Coast 356, Thompson-Okanagan 220, West Coast 168, Kootenay-Boundary 41, Omineca-Peace 41, Cariboo 16, Skeena 15, Northeast 12
• 869 complaints with 90% responded to within 7 days

Integrated Pest Management Act

Inspections

• 245 inspections done by 4 inspectors

Complaints by region

• South Coast 61, West Coast 36, Thompson-Okanagan 29, Kootenay-Boundary 5, Unknown 3, Skeena 2, Northeast 1, Omineca-Peace 1
• 139 complaints with 95% responded to within 7 days