Environmental compliance reports

April 15, 2024: Sandher Fruit Packers Ltd.

Sandher Fruit Packers Ltd. received a $78,368 administrative penalty for unauthorized discharge of effluent from their fruit packing operation. Sandher received a violation ticket in 2018 and a $32,000 administrative penalty in 2022 for the same non-compliance.

Administrative penalty

---

April 8, 2024: Howe Sound Pulp & Paper Corporation

Howe Sound Pulp & Paper Corporation received two administrative penalties totaling $22,000 for:

• Exceeding sulphur dioxide discharge limits from their power boiler
• Failing to inspect and maintain plant equipment

Howe Sound received two advisories and a warning for exceeding sulphur dioxide limits between 2018 and 2020.

Administrative penalty 1, 2

---

April 2, 2024: Conuma Resources Limited

Conuma Resources Limited, a steelmaking coal producer, has been issued two administrative penalties totaling $11,385 for failing to:

• Report non-compliances immediately and take steps to fix the problem
• Conduct water quality monitoring

Conuma received two advisories and three warnings for the same non-compliances between 2017 and 2021.

Administrative penalty 1, 2

March 25, 2024: FortyTwo Metals Inc.

FortyTwo Metals Inc. received a $7,800 administrative penalty (AP) for authorization non-compliances at their molybdenum mine near Trout Lake. The non-compliances included failing to sample their effluent for:

• Dissolved and/or total metals
• Ortho- phosphorus

They received warnings in 2018 and 2019 and an AP in 2020 for the same non-compliances.

Administrative penalty

---

March 12, 2024: TRLG Enterprise Ltd.

TRLG Enterprise Ltd. (TRLG) which operates Cedar Springs Mobile Home Park in Langley, received 5 administrative penalties totaling $77,699. The non-compliances were related to operation of its wastewater treatment plant. The non-compliances included failing to:

• Meet authorization limits for biochemical oxygen demand, nitrogen, phosphorus, total suspended solids, turbidity and fecal coliforms
• Maintain the treatment system 
• Install a remote alarm system to notify the operator if there was a malfunction
• Conduct monitoring and analysis
• Submit reports with monitoring results and analysis every 6 months

TRLG received a warning in 2017 and an administrative penalty in 2020 for the same issues.

Administrative penalty 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

---

March 6, 2024: 0934110 B.C. Ltd., dba Cottonwood Cove RV Resort

The owners of Cottonwood Cove RV Resort received three administrative penalties totaling $37,360 for failing to report non-compliances with the Municipal Wastewater Regulation, exceeding effluent discharge criteria and failing to carry out required effluent monitoring. They received warnings in 2019 and 2021 for the same issues.

Administrative penalty 1, 2, 3

---

March 4, 2024: Shuswap Lake Estates Ltd.

Shuswap Lake Estates Ltd. was issued two administrative penalties totaling $18,700 for discharging sewage effluent from an unauthorized treatment lagoon. They received a warning in 2018 and administrative penalties in 2020 and 2021 for the same issue.

Administrative penalty 1, 2

---

March 4, 2024: Barkerville Gold Mines Ltd

Barkerville Gold Mines Ltd received two administrative penalties totaling $285,860. The penalties were for failing to:

• Stay below effluent discharge characteristic limits on multiple occasions
• Notify the ministry within 48 hours when concentrations of certain parameters exceeded target levels

Barkerville received two administrative penalties for failing to stay below discharge characteristic limits in 2020 and 2021.

Administrative penalty 1, 2

---

March 4, 2024: Greenridge Ventures Corp

Greenridge Ventures Corp. in Lumby, received a $500 administrative penalty for selling non-excluded pesticides without an active vendor license. They received warnings in 2020 and 2021 for the same issue. 

Administrative penalty

---

March 4, 2024: CHMV Investments Inc. and TRJ Projects Ltd

CHMV Investments Inc. and TRJ Projects Ltd. was issued a $73,150 administrative penalty for not meeting wastewater discharge requirements at their residential strata development in Langley. They exceeded discharge limits for total suspended solids, turbidity, fecal coliforms and nitrate. They received an advisory in 2018, a warning in 2019 and an administrative penalty in 2022 for the same issue.

Administrative penalty

---

February 27, 2024: Nordstrom Enterprises Ltd.

Nordstrom Enterprises Ltd. received 3 administrative penalties totaling $37,625 for non-compliance with their wastewater treatment plant authorization. The penalty was for failing to install:

• A flow measurement device
• Ground water monitoring wells
• Ventilation/observation ports

They also failed to record monthly effluent volumes.

Nordstrom received an administrative penalty in 2021 for the same issues.

Administrative penalty 1, 2, 3

---

February 27, 2024: Columbia Shuswap Regional District 

The Columbia Shuswap Regional District (CSRD) was issued a $934 administrative penalty for non-compliance related to its operation of the Golden landfill. The CSRD failed to:

• Minimize bird, rodent and wildlife access to attractants 
• Keep litter from leaving the property boundary 

The CSRD received three warnings for the same issue in 2018, 2019, and 2021.
Administrative penalty

---

February 27, 2024: Columbia Shuswap Regional District 

The Columbia Shuswap Regional District (CSRD) was issued a $934 administrative penalty for non-compliance related to its operation of the Revelstoke landfill. The CSRD failed to:

• Minimize bird, rodent and wildlife access to attractants 
• Keep litter from leaving the property boundary 

The CSRD received three warnings for the same issue in 2019, 2020, and 2021.
Administrative penalty

---

February 27, 2024: Conuma Resources Ltd.

Conuma Resources Ltd., who operates the Brule Mine near Chetwynd, received a $5,500 administrative penalty. The penalty was for going over the limits of dustfall allowed in their authorization 26 times between 2019 and 2020. They were warned about this non-compliance in 2018 and 2019. 
Administrative penalty

---

February 14, 2024: Revolution Recovery Park Inc.

Revolution Resource Recovery Park Inc., in Abbotsford, received two administrative penalties totaling $39,550 for contravention of Sections 6(2)(3) and (4) of the Environmental Management Act. The administrative penalties are for releasing leachate from their unauthorized waste material recovery business. The materials they receive and process include plastics, textiles, demolition debris, and other general commercial waste which is used as kiln fuel for cement production.

Administrative penalty 1, 2

---

February 5, 2024: Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure

The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MOTI) received two administrative penalties totaling $21,500 for non-compliances related to its Dease Lake Landfill. The non-compliances included insufficient:

• Waste compacting and covering
• Litter control  
• Maintenance of the electric fence voltage for protection of wildlife and landfill users

MOTI received 3 advisories and 1 warning from 2013- 2020 for the waste compacting, covering and litter issues. They received 3 advisories and 2 warnings for the electric fence maintenance issue from 2013-2021.

Administrative penalty 1, 2

---

January 23, 2024: Copper Mountain Mine (BC) Ltd.

Copper Mountain Mine received two administrative penalties totaling $45,526 for non-compliances related to unauthorized discharges from a seepage dam from November 2019 to April 2020 and an adit from January to February 2020 and again in November 2020.

Administrative penalty 1, 2

---

January 23, 2024: Copper Mountain Mine (BC) Ltd.

Copper Mountain Mine received a $22,272 administrative penalty for non-compliances including seven exceedances of the authorized monthly nitrate discharge limit. Exceedances were 33%-34% over authorized limits.

Administrative penalty

---

January 23, 2024: Copper Mountain Mine (BC) Ltd.

Copper Mountain Mine received a $24,000 administrative penalty for non-compliances including nineteen exceedances of the authorized discharge limits for total copper.  Eight of these exceedances, occurring from April 20 to 27, 2021, ranged from 125% to 4,500% over the authorized limit.

Administrative penalty

---

January 17, 2024: Highvista Capital Corporation (Highvista) and Linceo Media Group Inc. (LMGI)

Highvista and LMGI received 3 administrative penalties totaling $101,000 for failing to comply with requirements in a Pollution Prevention Order issued to them on December 1, 2020. The non-compliances included failing to:

• Immediately begin required sampling and monitoring
• Implement the recommendations made in the monitoring and mitigation plan as submitted to the Ministry on February 26, 2021
• Provide monthly update reports on progress with the monitoring and mitigation plans

Administrative penalty 1, 2, 3

---

January 17, 2024: Highvista Capital Corporation (Highvista) and Linceo Media Group Inc. (LMGI)

Highvista and LMGI received a $75,000 administrative penalty for discharging mine impacted effluent without an authorization between April 27, 2021 and August 22, 2023.

Administrative penalty

---

January 10, 2024: Aldo John Venier dba Deer Ridge Estates

Deer Ridge Estates received two administrative penalties totaling $43,600 for non-compliances which included failing to:

• Notify the ministry before making changes to the treatment process that could affect the quality and/or quantity of the discharge
• Notify the ministry before construction of new phases of the development
• Do required flow monitoring and take grab samples on multiple occasions

They received a warning for the same issues in 2020.

Administrative penalty 1, 2

---

January 9, 2024: Catalyst Paper Corporation and Catalyst Pulp Operations Limited, dba Catalyst Paper

Catalyst Paper received a $25,500 administrative penalty for non-compliances which included :

• Exceeding the maximum discharge rate
• Failing two acute toxicity tests
• Failing to maintain the authorized equipment in good working order

Administrative penalty

---

January 2, 2024: 100 Mile Feed & Ranch Supply Ltd.

100 Mile Feed & Ranch Supply Ltd. received a $7,840 administrative penalty for not having a license to sell commercial and domestic pesticides as required under the Integrated Pest Management Act. They received a warning for the same non-compliance in 2021.

Administrative penalty

December 20, 2023: Village of Fraser Lake

The Village of Fraser Lake received two administrative penalties totaling $8,950 for non-compliances with their authorization requirements. The non-compliances included exceeding the:

• Maximum rate of discharge on numerous occasions
• 5-day Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) limit of 30 mg/L on two occasions

And failing to:

• Ensure that an acceptable data assurance program was done  
• Notify the ministry of any non-compliance in the required time frame
• Ensure that each data submission highlighted the number of exceedances

The Village received warnings in 2017, 2019, and 2021 for the same issues.

Administrative penalty 1, 2

---

December 4, 2023: North Okanagan-Shuswap School District No.83

The North Okanagan-Shuswap School District No. 83 was issued a $5,044 administrative penalty for not complying with requirements in their authorization related to groundwater sampling and analyses and effluent sampling on 17 occasions between April 1, 2021 and August 1, 2022. This is the second AMP for the same non-compliances.

Administrative penalty

---

November 11, 2023: The Owners, Strata Plan KAS 3536 dba Carmel Beach Private Lodges

Carmel Beach Private Lodges Strata received two administrative penalties totaling $2,319. They were for non-compliances related to their wastewater treatment system including:

• Exceeding discharge characteristics
• Failing to report discharge exceedances
• Not submitting an updated Facility Operating Plan

Administrative penalty 1, 2

---

October 24,2023: Gold Mountain Mining Corporation

Gold Mountain Mining Corporation received a $900 administrative penalty (AP) for failing to provide information requested as part of a July 20, 2023 inspection. Two deadline extensions were given and when the information was still not provided, a warning was issued. Partial information was provided and they received this AP for the outstanding items.

Administrative penalty

---

October 11, 2023: Deep Water Recovery Ltd.

Deep Water Recovery Ltd. (DWR) received a $500 administrative penalty for failing to submit their monthly monitoring report on time. Although there had been no precipitation and so no rainfall created runoff to report on, they failed to notify the ministry as such. Monthly reports are required under an Information Order DWR received January 23, 2023.

Administrative penalty

---

October 11, 2023: City of Prince George

The City of Prince George received a $1,000 administrative penalty for failing to have a certified wastewater treatment operator. Under their authorization the City is required to have a Level IV Wastewater Operator certified by the Environmental Environmental Operators Certification Program (EOCP). They received a warning for the same non-compliance in 2022.

Administrative penalty

---

October 5, 2023: District of Stewart

The District of Stewart was issued two administrative penalties (AP’s) totaling $3100 for failing to comply with requirements in their authorization. The non-compliances included failing to:

• Maintain the treatment system
• Report emergency conditions and corrective actions taken on four occasions immediately
• Immediately notify the ministry of non-compliances and send a written incident report on 13 occasions

They received a $1000 AP for the same contraventions on October 13, 2021.

Administrative penalty 1, 2

September 14, 2023: Coeur Silvertip Holdings Ltd.

Coeur Silvertip Holdings Ltd. was issued a $19,000 administrative penalty for failing to measure groundwater level on 11 occasions and do water quality sampling on one occasion as required in their authorization. Coeur received an advisory in 2018 and two warnings in 2020.  

Administrative penalty

---

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

---

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

---

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

2023 compliance year in review infographic (PDF, 8.8MB)

Environmental Management and Pest Management Acts

Inspections

• 805 inspections done by 30 inspectors

Compliance responses

• 211 notices of compliance, 268 advisories, 280 warnings, 45 administrative penalties, 1 investigation referral

Complaints by discharge type

• Effluent 288, refuse 209, odour 74, air emissions 117, pesticides 96
• 784 complaints with 94% responded to within 7 days

Administrative penalties levied totaled $17,211,591

Administrative penalties levied per sector:

Integrated Environmental Enforcement Unit

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.

4 officers responsible for:

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

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

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