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Last updated on April 18, 2024

Proponents for land use projects and developments must assess the potential to impact fossil resources. The BC Fossil Management Office maintains guidelines and tools that help proponents identify potential impacts to fossils using an assessment process and that inform best practices when planning around fossil resources.

Last updated: April 18, 2024

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Preliminary Study

Assessment of potential impact to fossils begins with a preliminary study. If this initial study indicates low or very low risk to fossil resources, a Chance Find Protocol needs to be developed in the event that fossils are uncovered during land disturbance. If the preliminary study indicates project activity is likely to encounter areas with medium and high risk to fossil resources, a Fossil Impact Assessment is required, including a Chance Find Protocol and Mitigation Plan.

The Preliminary Study Report Template (PDF, 131KB) outlines what to include in the report.

The steps for a preliminary are:

  1. Assess the potential risk to fossils using the risk matrices (level of disturbance and fossil resource potential) - see tools and guidelines box
  2. If the risk is very low or low, indicate in your report that the project activities will have low impact on fossil resources. A Chance Find Protocol will need to be developed
    • The Preliminary Study Report and Chance Find Protocol need to be submitted to the Fossil Management Office for review and approval
  3. If the risk is medium or high, a FIA will be required in advance of the construction or development project to further assess fossil resources

Fossil Impact Assessment (FIA)

The FIA determines pre- to post-development effects of project activities on fossil resources. The Fossil Impact Assessment Flowchart (PDF, 2.5MB) summarizes the FIA process.

The FIA Guidelines (PDF, 399 KB) outline the details required. The FIA builds on the Preliminary Study and should:

  • Provide the proponent with a plan for assessing and mitigating damage to fossil resources
  • Submit FIA Plan for Paleontological Field Investigation (PDF, 164) to the Fossil Management Office for review and approval
  • Identify fossil sites in the project area and the fossil resource potential 
  • Assess the significance of fossils encountered
  • Document and photograph fossils encountered to minimize information lost during project activity
  • Complete a Data Sheet(PDF, 149KB) for fossil discoveries in the project area
  • Make impact management and mitigation recommendations
  • Submit FIA report to the Fossil Management Office for review and approval
  • Arrange for transportation and curation of specimens

Please note that an arrangement must be made with a qualified B.C. institution to receive fossils collected from the project area. The Royal BC Museum has a new repository agreement process.

Appendix 5 of the Land Act Permission Policy (PDF, 276KB) outlines the conditions under which a Lead Paleontologist may conduct on-site investigation for the purpose of assessing potential impacts and extent of the fossil resources as part of the fossil impact assessment process. This applies only when no site disturbance is needed, other than by hand tools, and must be in accordance with a plan submitted to (via e-mail) and approved by the BC Fossil Management Office.

Chance Find Protocol and Data Sheet

A Chance Find Protocol must be developed because fossil resources may be discovered during industrial activity or development. This plan must be submitted to (via e-mail) and approved by the BC Fossil Management Office. 

The plan and its procedures will be site-specific. The purpose of a Chance Find Protocol is:

  1. To make workers aware of the fossil potential and types of fossils that may be encountered during excavation and moving of earth materials
  2. Identify the steps workers and operators should take and who they should contact when a fossil is discovered

Examples of Chance Find Protocols:

Fossils and fossil sites must be reported to the Fossil Management Office using the Data Sheet (PDF, 107KB).

Impact mitigation

Mitigation involves the assessment of impacts to fossil resources and having a site-specific Chance Find Protocol in place for unanticipated fossil discoveries.

Mitigation also requires development of a mitigation plan that lists, and implements, recommended measures to reduce adverse impacts on fossils encountered during ground disturbance.

Impact mitigation measures will be site-specific but may include:

  • Inform personnel of the types of fossils likely to occur
  • Suspend ground disturbance work in the vicinity of a fossil find and leave material in place; demarcate a protective buffer around the find area
  • Pause work to document the find. You must record the GPS location of the fossil, describe its position (e.g., depth below surface), photograph the site and the fossil
  • Report the find using the contact information in the Chance Find Protocol, and notify the BC Fossil Management Office
  • Salvage fossils through systematic excavation, in a scientifically sound yet efficient way, and move them to a safe location
  • Avoidance of a fossiliferous area by revising the development plan and leaving fossil resources intact
  • Monitoring of excavation by a qualified paleontologist during development activities. This may include fossil specimen recovery, data management (arranging curation of specimens) and reporting

Qualified Lead Paleontologists List for FIAs

Lead Paleontologist

The BC Fossil Management Office has compiled a list of paleontologists who hold the necessary qualifications to serve as Lead Paleontologist for the FIA process.

Access the list here: 

This list is intended as a convenience for proponents who require the services of a Lead Paleontologist and is not a prerequisite to work as a Lead Paleontologist in B.C. Unlisted paleontologists may also be qualified, and if so, may conduct FIAs.

FIAs must be conducted by or under the supervision of a qualified Lead Paleontologist, based on the qualifications listed in B.C.’s Fossil Impact Assessment Guidelines (PDF, 399KB)

Become a Lead Paleontologist

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How to apply

Download Application Form(Fillable PDF 202 KB) 

Complete and submit application to Fossil.Management@gov.bc.ca.

Your personal information is being collected by Heritage Branch, Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development according to section 26(c) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act for the purpose of creating a list of Qualified Lead Paleontologists able to conduct fossil impact assessments.

The submission of your application indicates your consent for your business contact information and additional information (experience and expertise information as indicated in your application) to be posted online. This information may be accessed from outside of Canada. Your consent is applicable from the date of your submission.

 

Qualifications

Education:

  • A Ph. D. from an accredited university in a paleontological discipline is preferred. The Ph.D. paleontologist should have written a thesis in which there has been field research and laboratory components or have subsequent field and/or laboratory experience. 
  • OR a M.Sc. degree from an accredited university with a thesis in a paleontological discipline and a minimum of 3 years post-M.Sc. experience as a paleontologist could also serve as the project leader. The M.Sc. paleontologist should have a written thesis in which there has been field research and laboratory components, or subsequent supervised field and/or laboratory experience demonstrating the capacity to act as the project leader for an equivalent project size.
  • OR a combination of education and experience that offers a similar skillset to those outlined above.

Experience:

  • Fieldwork under supervision (24 weeks)
  • Laboratory and/or curation training under supervision (24 weeks)
  • Project leadership and/or supervision
  • Demonstrated ability to design and conduct paleontological research
  • Demonstrated ability to communicate through written work
  • A record of peer-reviewed reports and/or other publications

Other:

  • Professional affiliations
 

Use of applicant’s information

The information provided will be reviewed to determine if the applicant possesses the qualifications necessary for a Lead Paleontologist. If so, the applicant’s contact information will be placed on the List of British Columbia Fossil Resource Consultants, which will be posted on the Fossil Management website. Education and experience information may be posted as well.

Questions about the collection or use of your information may be sent to the Heritage Branch at Heritage@gov.bc.ca

 

Other FIA roles

The FIA Guidelines identify the qualifications required to perform other roles in the undertaking of FIAs. The BC Fossil Management Office expects that the Lead Paleontologist will ensure that other staff possess the necessary qualifications.

Fossil Occurrence Database

The Fossil Occurrence Database provides spatial information on the distribution of fossil sites in British Columbia. A fossil site is a location where there are preserved remains, traces or imprints of organisms from the geological past.

The database is maintained by the BC Fossil Management Office and displays information such as site description, taxonomic data, site geology, fossil information, and reports. This information is provided to allow industry, professional paleontologists and geologists, First Nations, and government users to make informed decisions regarding land use planning and protection of fossil resources (see fossil protection).

Users may obtain access to the Fossil Occurrence Database by submitting a completed Fossil Information Sharing Agreement form:

Fossil resource map
Fossil resource map link

Authorized users may access the fossil occurrence information through the fossil resources web map.

Contact information

BC Fossil Management Office:

250-356-1432
Fossil.Management@gov.bc.ca

Media Contacts:

Corinna Filion
250-882-0918
Corinna.Filion@gov.bc.ca