Annual reporting for mines in B.C.
Last updated on July 14, 2025
Permittees are required to submit reports in compliance with their Mines Act permits and the Health, Safety and Reclamation Code for Mines in British Columbia.
Legislation
- Health, Safety and Reclamation Code for Mines in British Columbia
- Part 9.2.1(3) for mineral and coal exploration
- Part 10.3.4 for major mines, alternatively, report submission is a condition of the Mines Act permit
- Part 10.4.1 mine plan updates for a 5-year mine plan for sand and gravel, and quarries
Regional mine reports
Permit holders must submit annual reports summarizing activities at a mine site. Annual reports are due before March 31st of each year. Submit reports through MineSpace
Reports must be accompanied with:
- A detailed as-built map of the mine site
- Mine infrastructure locations (e.g. buildings, stockpiles, roads, etc.)
- Geospatial data of the as-built disturbances including attributes for the reclamation status
- Follow the geospatial submission requirements
- Reference the data dictionary for spatial data submissions
Code required reports
Activities conducted over the previous year:
Permit required reports
Planned activities for the coming year for Multi-Year Area-Based (MYAB) permit holders:
Permit required reports
Activities conducted over the previous year:
Planned activities for the coming year for Multi-Year Area-Based (MYAB) permit holders:
Code required reports
Mine Plan Update policy (PDF, 351KB) provides guidance on the information requirements for a permit amendment to a regional mine authorized for mining activities for more than five years.
Submit mine plan updates through MineSpace.
Applies to:
- Sand and gravel pits
- Construction aggregate (rock) quarries
Does not apply to:
- Reclamation activities
- Major mines
- Industrial mineral mines
No material changes to the approved mine plan
Permittees may submit mine plan updates as code required reports.
No material changes include:
- No expansions to the permitted excavation area and no increase to the depth of excavation
- Annual extraction/production rates do not exceed the permitted tonnage
- No changes to the approved activities
- No proposed changes to the approved end land use
- No change to the approval end date
Material changes to the approved mine plan
Requires an amendment to the Mines Act permit.
Submit the mine plan amendment for the Mines Act permit as a Notice of Work application.
Permit required reports
Sand and gravel, quarry annual summary of work and reclamation — activities conducted over the previous year:
Major mine reclamation reports
The intent of the Annual Reclamation Report (ARR) is to provide a summary of all activities conducted on the mine property over the previous year. The report must outline the following:
- Mine development, including surface disturbance, stripping, stockpiling, disposal and storage of all materials
- Activities, research and monitoring results associated with the development and implementation of the environmental protection program
- Activities, research and monitoring results associated with the development and implementation of the reclamation program
Annual Reclamation Reports are public documents. ARRs are available on the BC Mine Information website. Remember to only include information in reports that you are comfortable sharing publicly.
Ensure all information required by the permit is included in the ARR. The mine is responsible for ensuring compliance with all conditions under the Mines Act, the Code, and site-specific permits.
Submit reports through MineSpace.
Annual reclamation reports (ARR) submission requirements
Starting March 31, 2026 spatial data which does not meet data standards will be rejected
Changes to mine plan, environmental protection program, or reclamation and closure plan
Proposed changes are submitted to the chief permitting officer as a permit amendment application, or notice of departure. Submit this information using MineSpace.
Proposed changes are not submitted in the annual reclamation report.
Annual Reclamation Report Requirement (PDF, 223KB)
The ARR submission showcases:
- Mining and reclamation activities
- Demonstrates compliance with approved plans, permit conditions and best practices
- Effectiveness of monitoring programs
- Identification of potential issues and liabilities
- Information gathered throughout the life of mine
ARRs are due by March 31st following the reporting year.
Submit report and spatial files using Minespace.
Note: As of January 1, 2026 reports will no longer be accepted by email.
Report format requirements (PDF, 223KB)
- Cover letter/email
- Table of contents
- Executive Summary
- 1.0 Introduction
- 2.0 Mining program
- 3.0 Environment protection program
- 4.0 Reclamation program
- 5.0 Reclamation liability cost estimates
- 6.0 Notice of departures
- 7.0 Maps and photos
The ARR submission must be accompanied by a cover letter. Include the following data in the tabulated format shown below:
| Company: | ||
| Mine name: | ||
| Mines Act permit: | ||
| Previous report (e.g., 2024) | Current Report (e.g., 2025) | |
| Total disturbance area (ha) 1 | ||
| Total reclaimed area (ha) 2 | ||
| Total revegetated area (ha) 3 | ||
| Total area exempt from revegetation (ha) (i.e. pit walls) 4 | ||
| Total area exempt from reclamation as per permit approval (ha) 5 | ||
| Mining production (annual total) | ||
| Milling production (annual total) | ||
| Total liability estimate | ||
| Date for next five-year mine plan and reclamation plan update (if required) |
- Cumulative total of all disturbances associated with the mine regardless of reclamation status.
- Total of all reclaimed areas that have been signed off as “reclamation complete” and accepted by EMLI.
- Total of all areas that has been revegetated. For an area to be recorded as “revegetated”, it must have supported vegetation that will lead to the designated land use objective for at least one year.
- Total of all areas that are exempt from revegetation as per Code Sections 10.9.2 and 10.9.13 (HSRC, 2024)
- Total area exempt from reclamation standards as per Code Section 10.9.3 of the (HSRC, 2024) and/or permit conditions.
Geospatial files are required to be submitted with all Annual Reclamation Reports for each mine. Geospatial file and data standards streamline submission requirements.
The following tables must also be completed, if applicable for the site. Cover Letter Summary Table and Table 1 are minimum requirements. Provide rationale if not including tables in the ARR submission.
- Cover Letter Summary (WORD, 14.3KB)
- Table 1: Summary of Areas Disturbed and Reclaimed (WORD, 47.5KB)
- Ensure that the exempt area reported is not double-counted under the different classifications. In the body of the report, the exempt areas must be specified, rationale provided for the exemption, and maps included depicting the exempt areas
- Table 2: Quantity of Waste Materials (WORD, 23.1KB)
- Ensure that all waste types (including any water treatment wastes and contaminated soil), disposal areas and volumes are included even if waste was not added in the reporting year. Ensure maps include all waste disposal areas
- Table 3: Monthly Mining and Mill Production (WORD, 24KB)
- Ensure all areas mined are included in the table
- Table 4: Monthly Custom Milling Production (WORD, 24.4KB)
- Ensure that information on volumes of various ore feeds is reported in the table. Summarize the number of ore and tailings samples that have been collected to characterize the ML/ARD potential of the materials milled. Include all raw data and data interpretation in the report.
- Table 5: Quantities of Soil and Overburden (WORD, 23.8KB)
- Ensure that characterization data are provided in the report that represent the materials salvaged and stockpiled, and maps included depicting stockpile locations.
- Ensure that areas that could not be salvaged due to safety or other reasons are identified in the report, along with a supporting rationale.
- Include volumes of imported growth medium material, if applicable
- Table 6: Summary of NoD Disturbance Areas (WORD, 54KB)
- Identify the area of new disturbance (include disturbance to previously revegetated areas), associated with Departures from Approvals.
A detailed estimate of the total expected costs of outstanding reclamation obligations for the mine, including all long-term costs for monitoring, maintenance, and water treatment (if required), must be included in the Annual Reclamation Report.
If the detailed cost estimates are expected to be filed as a separate confidential report, please clearly specify in the report cover letter. The total reclamation liability estimated for the site should still be provided in the Cover Letter Summary Table [WORD, 14.2KB].