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Querying mining datasets: NoW applications and permits

Last updated on December 11, 2024

Mine permitting data can be difficult to understand. The following information suggests ways to query the spatial information.

Applications for regional Mines Act permits are known as Notice of Work (NoW) applications. Regional mine permits are issued for mineral and coal exploration activities, sand and gravel production, quarry production, and placer mining. Major mine permits are issued for producing mineral and coal mines. Permits are issued by the chief permitting officer under section 10 of the Mines Act and administered by the ministry.

Mines Act permit applications

This dataset contains data for a Notice of Work with a specific application status, such as 'application', 'approved' or 'withdrawn'. To find all NoW in application, use the following information:

 

Point dataset (Notice of Work)

The query on this dataset captures all regional mine Notice of Work (NoW) applications. Any major mine NoW application listed (mine_scale_description = ‘Major Mine’) is an exploration application falling under the major mine permit.

Dataset

WHSE_MINERAL_TENURE.HSP_NOTICE_OF_WORK_PA_POINT_SV

Definition query

NOW_APPLICATION_STATUS_DESC NOT IN ( 'Approved', 'No Permit Required', 'Rejected', 'Withdrawn', 'Pending Verification' )

Mines Act permits

A decision marks the end of the permitting process for a NoW application. The decision can either be to reject the application or to authorize the mining activities proposed in the NoW.

  • For new NoW authorizations, a Mines Act permit is issued
  • For an existing open Mines Act permit, the newly authorized mining activities are amended to the existing permit and the permit is re-issued

There is a one-to-many relationship amongst a NoW application, a permit, and a mine site.

  • A single permit may have multiple NoW authorizations
    • Some of these will have authorized Mines Act permits
    • Some of these will have a Mines Act permit without authorization
  • A single mine site may have multiple permits

The ministry is transitioning from point data to polygonal data for authorizations. The polygon datasets are added to as data becomes available. Users should use both the point dataset and the polygon dataset in combination.

There are different ways to view the information. Determine whether you want to view all permits, whether the mine is operating, or whether there is an authorization or not. The following queries help address some variations.

Note: For the definition queries listed below SYSDATE is the system date used in an Oracle database system. This is equivalent to the current date or current timestamp.

Point dataset (Notice of Work)

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Open permits with current authorization

The query on this dataset captures all open permits with work authorizations (NoW). Any major mine authorization listed (mine_scale_description = ‘ Major Mine’) is an exploration application falling under the major mine permit.

Dataset

WHSE_MINERAL_TENURE.HSP_NOTICE_OF_WORK_PA_POINT_SV

Definition query

NOW_APPLICATION_STATUS_DESC IN ('Approved', 'No Permit Required') AND PERMIT_STATUS_CODE_DESC = 'Open' AND (amendment_auth_end_date >= sysdate)

 

Open permits with expired authorization

The query on this dataset captures all open permits without work authorizations (NoW). Any major mine authorization listed (mine_scale_description = ‘ Major Mine’) is an exploration application falling under the major mine permit.

Dataset

WHSE_MINERAL_TENURE.HSP_NOTICE_OF_WORK_PA_POINT_SV

Definition query

NOW_APPLICATION_STATUS_DESC IN ('Approved', 'No Permit Required') AND PERMIT_STATUS_CODE_DESC = 'Open' AND (amendment_auth_end_date < sysdate)

 

Polygon dataset (Permitted mine area)

Regional mine

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Open permits with current authorization

The query on this dataset captures all permitted regional mine sites that have open permits and an authorization.

Dataset (regional mine)

WHSE_MINERAL_TENURE.HSP_NOTICE_OF_WORK_PA_POLY_SV

Definition query (regional mine)

NOW_APPLICATION_STATUS_DESC IN ('Approved', 'No Permit Required') AND (amendment_auth_end_date >= sysdate)

 

Open permits with expired authorization

The query on this dataset captures all permitted regional mine sites that have open permits and without authorizations.

Dataset (regional mine)

WHSE_MINERAL_TENURE.HSP_NOTICE_OF_WORK_PA_POLY_SV

Definition query (regional mine)

NOW_APPLICATION_STATUS_DESC IN ('Approved', 'No Permit Required') AND PERMIT_STATUS_CODE_DESC = 'Open' AND (amendment_auth_end_date < sysdate)

 

 Major mine 

 

Operating mine

The query on this dataset captures all permitted major mine sites that have open permits and are operating mines.

Dataset (major mine)

WHSE_MINERAL_TENURE.HSP_MJR_MINES_PERMTTD_AREAS_SP

Definition query (major mine)

OP_STATUS_DESC = 'Operating'

Other alternatives,

  • OP_STATUS_DESC = 'Abandoned' - This would filter for abandoned mines*
  • OP_STATUS_DESC = 'Closed' - This would filter for closed mines*
  • OP_STATUS_DESC = 'Not Started' - This would filter for mines not started yet

The BC Mines Information website offers additional information on major mines: https://mines.nrs.gov.bc.ca/

* see definitions in the Mines Act