Conducting audits on regulated parties within a specific sector is one of the methods the B.C. government uses to verify compliance with EMA and its associated regulations. They can be conducted through on-site inspections or by evaluating submitted data and reports. Below, completed sector audits are available for your convenience, sorted alphabetically.
Sector audits are also conducted on regulated parties under the Integrated Pest Management Act. For these pesticide-related audits, please visit the pesticide reports, publications and guides page.
The compliance audits have four primary objectives:
Asphalt Compliance Audit Report - August 2017
The audit set out to evaluate asphalt plants operating within the Province of British Columbia between 2013 and 2015 to determine their level of compliance with the Asphalt Plant Regulation (APR) and the Environmental Management Act (EMA). The objectives of the audit were to:
Read the full Asphalt Plant Audit Report (PDF, 2.2MB)
Given the results of the audit and the feedback from industry representatives during post inspection follow-ups, the following recommendations have been made:
Oil and Gas Air Permit Compliance Audit Report - August 2017
The purpose of this audit was to evaluate the level of compliance with air permit requirements at five Spectra Gas Plants in the Peace region (Dawson Creek Processing Plant, Fort Nelson Gas Plant, Fort Nelson North Processing Facility, McMahon Gas Plant Taylor and Pine River Gas Plant) for the years 2013 to 2016.
Overall, a compliance rate of 50% was observed based on pooled data with the permit conditions of the five gas plants. The audit results determined that Spectra was out of compliance with some permit requirements such as maintenance of works, bypasses, unauthorized works and reporting requirements. As a result of the non-compliances, Spectra was issued five Advisories and two Warnings. The audit results revealed that ambient air quality monitoring programs were in place at all five sites; the monitoring equipment was functioning properly; up to date maintenance records were present onsite; and data and reports were submitted as required by the permits’ timeline requirements.
Hydrogen sulphide (H2S) values exceeded the AQOs limits, at the McMahon and Pine River Gas Plants in 2013 to 2015. Sulphur dioxide (SO2) values did not exceed the AQOs at any of the audited processing facilities from 2013 to 2015.
It was observed that some sections of the permits need to be amended pertaining to equipment or processes that were unauthorized, decommissioned or no longer in use. The updated permits would reflect the correct equipment and be beneficial to have a more accurate compliance determination.
Read the Oil and Gas Air Permit Audit Report (PDF, 3.2MB)
Given the results of the audit, the following recommendations have been made:
Sawmill Air Authorization Compliance Audit Report - August 2017
The purpose of this audit was to evaluate sawmills operating within the Province of British Columbia during 2015 and to determine their level of compliance with the monitoring and/or reporting requirement section(s) in their air authorizations issued under the Environmental Management Act (EMA) . The objectives of the audit were to:
There are currently 104 sawmill air authorizations in B.C.; 81 have monitoring and/or reporting requirements. Of these, 38 authorizations were assessed to determine whether or not authorization holders were in compliance during the 2015 reporting year.
The overall industry compliance rate is 26%; while the sector compliance rate was low for 2015, the majority of non-compliances were administrative in nature. Factors leading to the observed non-compliance rates included:
Read the Sawmill Air Authorization Compliance Audit Report (PDF, 1.5MB)
Given the results of the audit and the feedback from industry representatives during post inspection follow-ups, the following recommendations have been made:
Composting Industry Audit- 2023
The purpose of this audit was to determine overall compliance rates for authorized facilities operating within the composting industry and to identify opportunities for improving compliance in the sector.
Organic Matter Recycling Regulation Audit Report - February 2018
The objective of this audit was to verify compliance of representative composting facilities which produce less than 5,000 tonnes of finished compost per year against the Organic Matter Recycling Regulation (OMRR). Also, to compare the results to those facilities that produced more than 5,000 tonnes of finished compost per year.
Overall, the nine facilities that produced less than 5,000 tonnes of finished compost per year were in compliance with 64 percent of the assessed requirements and out of compliance with 25 percent of the assessed requirements. Compliance with a specific requirement was 'not determined' for 6 percent of the requirements and 6 percent of the requirements were 'not applicable'.
Read the Organic Matter Recycling Regulation Audit Report (PDF, 1.7MB)
Split Sample Audit Program Assessment: Pulp Mill Effluent - 2018
An assessment in 2018 of the adequacy of quality control deployed by the pulp and paper sector and the quality of effluent monitoring data submitted to the ministry, to ensure compliance with sampling and laboratory methods and protocols.
Read the Split Sample Audit Program Assessment: Pulp Mill Effluent - 2018 (PDF, 561.6KB).
Fish Processing Plant Sector Compliance Audit Information - June 2018
The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy (ENV) has conducted an audit of the current effluent discharge authorizations under the Environmental Management Act (EMA) within the fish processing industry in British Columbia.
The objectives of the audit were to:
Visit the Fish Processing Plant Sector Compliance audit page
Invert Drill Cutting Compliance Audit Report - August 2017
The objective of this audit was to establish a baseline for administrative and environmental requirements for invert waste sites in British Columbia.
Objectives include the following:
The audit focused on the two authorization holders who are responsible for the majority of active invert authorizations: Direct Energy Marketing Ltd. doing business as Centrica Energy Canada (Direct Energy) holds 30 active authorizations while Progress Energy Canada Ltd. (Progress Energy) holds 23. A total of 51 of these authorizations were assessed for compliance with the HWR during the audit, making up over 50% of all invert waste sites. This is considered to be a representative sample set of invert waste sites in B.C.
100% percent of the authorizations inspected as part of this audit were found to be out of compliance due to failing to meet the administrative requirements of their authorizations. The main factor that led to observed non-compliance's was a failure to submit the required reports on time. It is noted that the majority of missed annual reports occurred in years of transition where the operation of a site was transferred to a new authorization holder.
Read the Invert Drill Cutting Hazardous Waste Facility Audit Report (PDF)
Based on these results, the following recommendations have been made:
Agricultural Environmental Management Code of Practice Nutrient Application Audit- 2023
An audit of two sections of the Agricultural Environmental Management Code of Practice related to compliance with the prohibited and risk assessment periods for nutrient application.
Read the Agricultural Environmental Management Code of Practice Nutrient Application Audit- 2023 (PDF, 2.4MB)
Agricultural Boiler and Heater Audit Report-2022
An audit of boiler and heater registrations under the Code of Practice for Agricultural Environmental Management
Read the Agricultural Boiler and Heater Audit Report- 2022 (PDF, 554KB)
Vehicle Dismantling Regulation Audit Report- 2021
An audit of the vehicle dismantling and recycling industry under the Vehicle Dismantling and Recycling Industry Environmental Planning Regulation (VDR) and selected sections of the Hazardous Waste Regulation (HWR).
Read the Vehicle Dismantling Regulation Audit Report- 2021 (PDF, 1MB)
Concrete and Concrete Products Industry Compliance Audit Report - 2020
A 2020 sector-wide compliance audit of select facilities in the concrete and concrete products industry within the province of British Columbia.
Read the Concrete and Concrete Products Industry Compliance Audit Report - 2020 (PDF, 1.2MB)
Fruit and Vegetable Audit Report - 2020
A sector-wide compliance audit in 2020 of select fruit and vegetable processing facilities within the province of British Columbia.
Read the Fruit and Vegetable Audit Report - 2020 (PDF, 1MB).
Plastics Industry Compliance Audit Report - 2019
A sector-wide compliance audit in 2019 on select plastics and composite products facilities and plastic and synthetic resin manufacturing facilities within the province of British Columbia.
Read the Plastics Industry Compliance Audit Report - 2019 (PDF, 645.2KB).
Dairy Products Sector Compliance Audit Report - 2019
A sector-wide compliance audit in 2019 on select dairy products facilities within the province of British Columbia (B.C.) to determine their level of compliance with the Environmental Management Act.
Read the Dairy Products Sector Compliance Audit Report - 2019 (PDF, 565.2KB).
Chemical and Chemical Products Industry Compliance Audit Report - 2019
A sector-wide compliance audit in 2019 on select chemical and chemical products facilities within the province of British Columbia to determine their level of compliance with the Environmental Management Act.
Read the Chemical and Chemical Products Industry Compliance Audit Report - 2019 (PDF, 565.5KB).
Secondary Wood Processing Industry Compliance Audit Report – 2019
A sector-wide compliance audit in 2019 on select secondary wood processing facilities within the province of British Columbia to determine their level of compliance with the Environmental Management Act.
Read the Secondary Wood Processing Industry Compliance Audit Report – 2019 (PDF, 912.7KB).
Land-based Aquaculture Sector Compliance Audit Report - 2018
A sector-wide compliance audit in 2018 on a representative sample of land-based aquaculture facilities within the province of British Columbia to determine their level of compliance with the Environmental Management Act.
Read the Land-based Aquaculture Sector Compliance Audit Report - 2018 (PDF, 404.4KB).
Municipal Landfill Gas Management Compliance Audit Report - 2018
A sector-wide compliance audit in 2018 on a select number of municipal solid waste landfills within the province of British Columbia to determine their level of compliance with the Landfill Gas Management Regulation.
Read the Municipal Landfill Gas Management Compliance Audit Report - 2018 (PDF, 699.2KB).
Qualified Professional Audit Report - September 2018
The Qualified Professional Audit set out to evaluate the use of Qualified Professionals in British Columbia’s mining and municipal wastewater sectors in order to determine if they are in compliance with current regulatory requirements.
Visit the Qualified Professional Audit page
Municipal Wastewater Authorizations within the South Coast of BC – Regulatory Review and Compliance Assessment Summary - 2019
A regulatory review and a compliance assessment summary on authorizations for municipal wastewater discharges into surface and marine waters off the south coast of British Columbia and Vancouver Island.
North East Sewage Management Compliance Audit - August 2017
Domestic wastewater (sewage) generation is inevitable, and its treatment and disposal is considered to be an essential service. Although all sewage is eventually released into the environment, there are many options for treatment to reduce pollutant and pathogen loading prior to discharge. Sewage systems generally consist of infrastructure for collection, treatment, and/or conveyance and may be located onsite (for example, composting toilets, septic tanks and septic fields) or conveyed offsite to facilities such as wastewater treatment plants by piping or septic haulers.
There have been several concerns raised on municipal sewage management practices in the northeast region of British Columbia which prompted the need for an audit on sewage operations in this region. These concerns include industrial contamination of incoming loads at authorized municipal wastewater treatment facilities, the establishment of unauthorized lagoons for commercial use, and illegal dumping of effluent.
Read the North East Sewage Management Compliance Audit Report (PDF, 1MB)
Based on the results of the audit, audit recommendations include the following:
1 The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy, in collaboration with the Ministry of Energy and Mines, Environmental Assessment Office and the Justice and Attorney General, is amending 1000 authorizations to standardize policy and permit conditions.
Burrard Inlet Effluent Discharge Compliance Audit, Phase Two - June 2018
The objective of this audit was to determine industry compliance by assessing the same 15 authorized facilities as were assessed in the phase one audit, provide recommendations to industry and the ministry to improve overall compliance within the sector. All 15 facilities have an active authorization to discharge effluent to the Burrard Inlet under the Environmental Management Act.
Authorization holders assessed were in compliance with 74 percent of their respective authorization requirements; however, only 33 percent were in compliance with all of their requirements. Authorized discharge requirements had the highest rate of compliance (81 percent), while general requirements had the lowest level of compliance (58 percent). Authorization sections containing monitoring and reporting requirements had compliance rates of 80 percent and 63 percent, respectively.
Read the Burrard Inlet Effluent Discharge Compliance Audit Report Phase 2 (PDF, 1.9MB)
Nooksack River Watershed Audit Report - 2018
The objective of this audit was to determine compliance rates in the agriculture and composting sector in the Nooksack River Watershed and provide recommendations to improve overall compliance within the sector.
This audit will also help to inform decisions made by the Nooksack River Transboundary Technical Collaboration Group and guide long-term compliance efforts in the agricultural and compost sectors beyond the Nooksack River Watershed.
Overall agriculture and compost compliance was low for the operations inspected (58 percent), and even lower when the data was focused only on operations that use, produce, or store manure (44 percent).
Read the Nooksack River Watershed Audit Report (PDF)
Burrard Inlet Effluent Discharge Compliance Audit Report - August 2017
The Burrard Inlet effluent authorization audit was undertaken to review facilities which are authorized to discharge effluent to the Burrard Inlet and assess compliance with their authorization issued under Environmental Management Act (EMA).
The objective of this audit was to determine industry compliance by assessing each authorized facility and provide recommendations to industry and the ministry to improve overall compliance within the sector. This audit will also help to inform decisions made by the Burrard Inlet Water Quality Objectives Technical Working Group and contribute to the Burrard Inlet Action Plan – an initiative to improve Environmental health and integrity of the Burrard Inlet by 2025.
Data collected during this audit shows that the authorization holders were in compliance with 82% of their respective authorization requirements; however, only 37% of authorization holders were in compliance with all of their requirements. Authorized discharge requirements had the highest rate of compliance (85%), while reporting requirements had the lowest level of compliance (75%). Authorization sections containing general requirements and monitoring requirements had compliance rates of 84% and 83%, respectively.
Read the Burrard Inlet Effluent Authorization Compliance Audit Report (PDF, 1.8MB)
The greatest occurrences of non-compliance were 'effluent exceeding water quality authorization limits' (10 occurrences) and 'failure to submit reporting data' (13 occurrences). Overall, facility compliance with their respective authorizations was high during 2014 and 2015. The following recommendations have been made:
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