These reports and data cover the results of inspections under:
The Environmental Management Act (EMA), which regulates:
The Integrated Pest Management Act (IPMA), which regulates:
​Both the EMA and IPMA provide powers and authority for ministry staff to:
Administrative Penalties (APs) are financial penalties that can be given to encourage parties to come into compliance.
They are a valuable tool in our escalating enforcement model.
July to September 2024
Ground X Site Services Ltd. received a $150,000 administrative penalty for the unauthorized discharge of effluent on two occasions:
Samples of the effluent found it exceeded BC Water Quality Guidelines for multiple parameters including arsenic, chromium, lead, coliforms and hydrocarbons.
Parastone Developments Ltd. received a $5,500 administrative penalty for non-compliances with the Open Burn Regulation including:
Purity Feed received a $2,700 administrative penalty for non-compliances with the Integrated Pest Management Regulation including failing to:
They previously received an advisory and warnings for the same non-compliances.
Launch Construction Ltd. received a $3,000 administrative penalty for non-compliances with the Open Burn Regulation including burning:
Nicola Mining Inc. (NMI) received 4 administrative penalties totaling $186,940 for non-compliances at their Treasure Mountain Mine. The non-compliances included failing to:
NMI has received 3 administrative penalties for the same non-compliances.
Administrative penalty 1, 2, 3, 4
Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine (RDKS) received a $10,000 administrative penalty for non-compliances related to the operation of their Meziadin Landfill. The non-compliances included failing to:
The RDKS received warnings in 2020 and 2021 for the same non-compliances.
Teck Coal Limited (Teck) received two administrative penalties totaling $220,750 for non-compliances at their Elkview Operations site. The non-compliances included discharging process slurry from it’s coal processing plant to the ground 27 times and to surface water twice.
Teck was previously issued a $198,000 AMP in May 2022 for the same non-compliances.
Pacific Abrasives & Supply Inc. operates an abrasives processing facility in Grand Forks. They received a $130,000 administrative penalty for failing to suppress fugitive dust between July of 2020 and December of 2022 from their operation which is close to residential areas. This is the third administrative penalty issued to the company for dust related non-compliances.
Complaints of a structure fire on Cortes Island in February of 2022 lead to John Vosper being issued a $3,500 administrative penalty for burning prohibited material (construction and demolition debris). Vosper admitted that burning construction debris was less expensive than landfilling.
Fertoz International Organic Inc. operates two phosphate rock mines east of Fernie and was issued three administrative penalties totalling $24,700:
Fertoz International Organic Inc. had previously received a warning in 2019.
Administrative penalty 1, 2, 3
Hemlock Utility Services Ltd. provides sanitary services to Sasquatch Mountain Resort near Chilliwack. They were issued five administrative penalties totalling $86,500 for;
These non-compliances happened between July 2022 and May of 2023. A warning was previously issued in June of 2022.
Administrative penalty 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Huldra Properties Inc operates the Craigmont Mine near Merritt. They have been issued a $16,100 administrative penalty for not submitting an updated groundwater monitoring program before restarting discharges to their tailings facility in March of 2023. Another $1,800 was fined for failing to report non-compliances to the ministry between March and October of 2023. This is the second administrative penalty issued for the same failures to comply.
In December 2023, after multiple complaints were received about visible flames, breathing issues and headaches from a toxic smell near Burns Lake, Christian Weller was found burning insulation, plastics, furniture and other prohibited materials on their property. An $11,875 administrative penalty was issued for burning prohibited material aggravated by human health impacts.
The Cooper Mountain Mine near Princeton received two administrative penalties. The first was $11,500 for 16 non-compliances of total copper concentrations in Wolfe Creek and a second was issued for $1,600 for the failure to immediately notify the ministry of non-compliances with their permit between April 2021 and June 2022. Administrative penalties have been previously issued for failure to comply.
After receiving complaints of a structure fire at an orchard near Erickson in May of 2023, Kiranpal Sandhu was found to be the responsible person who directed workers to burn an old structure that contained prohibited materials including shingles, wire, appliances and metal. A $3,500 administrative penalty was issued to Kiranpal Sandhu, who had been previously provided with information on what prohibited materials are by the Creston Fire Department.
Channel Ridge Environmental Systems Ltd. operates a private sewage treatment system on Salt Spring Island. They were issued 3 administrative penalties totalling $32,793 for non-compliances with authorized works, receiving environment monitoring and reporting. Warnings for the same non-compliances were issued in 2019 and 2021.
Administrative penalty 1, 2, 3
Gavin Mines Inc, who owns the Dome Mountain Mine near Smithers, was fined $9,000 for failing to fully analyze 32 monthly samples for all parameters between June 1, 2021 and January 1, 2023. This is the second administrative penalty for this non-compliance.
Global Pet Food Stores Inc. was issued a $200 administrative penalty for failing to provide an officer information requested to conduct an inspection in February of 2024. A warning for failing to provide information was issued in December of 2023.
April to June 2024
Teck Coal Limited received a $13,500 administrative penalty for thirteen unauthorized discharges of hydrocarbons between January 5th and July 4th, 2021, at their Fording River Operations location.
The Cowichan Valley Regional District received two administrative penalties totalling $3,338 for non-compliances at their wastewater treatment plant, including failing to:
They received a warning for the same non-compliances in 2021.
Canadian Timberframes Ltd. received a $20,283 administrative penalty for discharging air contaminants from an unauthorized baghouse and cyclone from March 2022 to April 2024.
They received an administrative penalty in 2022 for the same non-compliances.
Waves Coffee Inc. received a $30,891 administrative penalty for non-compliances under the Recycling Regulation including failing to:
Waves Coffee received a warning for the same non-compliances in 2023.
Conrad Schiebel received a $1,500 administrative penalty for burning prohibited material included demolition waste, electrical wiring, fibreglass, plastics, polystyrene foam, and rubber at his Turtle Valley Bison Ranch.
United Concrete and Gravel Ltd. received an $18,281 administrative penalty for discharging air emissions from four unauthorized sources at its concrete and glass abrasives manufacturing facility. They received warnings in 2019 and 2020 for the same non-compliances.
Conuma Resource Limited, which operates a coal mine near Chetwynd, received a $4,750 administrative penalty for:
These non-compliances occurred between December 2020 and December 2022.
Conuma Resource Limited, which operates a coal mine near Chetwynd, received two administrative penalties totaling $41,100. This was for failing to:
These non-compliances occurred between October 2020 and March 2023.
The City of Chilliwack, which owns and operates the Bailey Sanitary Landfill, received an $11,000 administrative penalty for non-compliance with their authorization including:
They received an advisory for the same issues in 2022.
Harbourside Lodge Bamfield Ltd. received 3 administrative penalties totaling $17,722 for failing to:
They received a warning in 2018 for the same non-compliances.
Administrative penalty 1, 2, 3
Barkerville Gold Mines Ltd. (BGM) received a $9,870 administrative penalty for failing to:
BGM was warned in 2019 and 2021 for the same non-compliances.
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.
Howe Sound Pulp & Paper Corporation received two administrative penalties totaling $22,000 for:
Howe Sound received two advisories and a warning for exceeding sulphur dioxide limits between 2018 and 2020.
Conuma Resources Limited, a steelmaking coal producer, has been issued two administrative penalties totaling $11,385 for failing to:
Conuma received two advisories and three warnings for the same non-compliances between 2017 and 2021.
January to March 2024
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:
They received warnings in 2018 and 2019 and an AP in 2020 for the same non-compliances.
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:
TRLG received a warning in 2017 and an administrative penalty in 2020 for the same issues.
Administrative penalty 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
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
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.
Barkerville Gold Mines Ltd received two administrative penalties totaling $285,860. The penalties were for failing to:
Barkerville received two administrative penalties for failing to stay below discharge characteristic limits in 2020 and 2021.
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.
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.
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:
They also failed to record monthly effluent volumes.
Nordstrom received an administrative penalty in 2021 for the same issues.
Administrative penalty 1, 2, 3
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:
The CSRD received three warnings for the same issue in 2018, 2019, and 2021.
Administrative penalty
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:
The CSRD received three warnings for the same issue in 2019, 2020, and 2021.
Administrative penalty
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
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.
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
Administrative penalty 1, 2, 3
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.
Deer Ridge Estates received two administrative penalties totaling $43,600 for non-compliances which included failing to:
They received a warning for the same issues in 2020.
Catalyst Paper received a $25,500 administrative penalty for non-compliances which included :
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.
October to December 2023
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:
And failing to:
The Village received warnings in 2017, 2019, and 2021 for the same issues.
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.
Carmel Beach Private Lodges Strata received two administrative penalties totaling $2,319. They were for non-compliances related to their wastewater treatment system including:
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.
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.
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.
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:
They received a $1000 AP for the same contraventions on October 13, 2021.
Access the Natural Resource Compliance and Enforcement Database to find other administrative penalties.
These annual summaries cover the calendar year for both EMA and IPMA activities which support our mission to protect the environment by:
2023 compliance summary
2023 compliance year in review infographic (PDF, 8.8MB)
Inspections
Compliance responses
Complaints by discharge type
Administrative penalties levied totaled $17,211,591
Administrative penalties levied per sector:
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:
2022 compliance summary
2022 compliance year in review infographic (PDF, 5.4MB)
Inspections
Compliance responses
Complaints by discharge type
Administrative penalties levied totaled $2,239,101
Administrative penalties levied per sector by percent:
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:
2021 compliance summary
2021 compliance year in review infographic (PDF, 247KB)
Inspections
Complaints by discharge type
Complaints by region
Inspections
Complaints by region
For an explanation of these responses, refer to Compliance and Enforcement Policy and Procedures (PDF, 1MB)
Conducting audits on regulated parties is one of the methods the B.C. government uses to verify compliance.
For compliance audits under the IPMA, visit the Reports, publications and guides for pesticides page.