Title and statement of responsibility area
Title proper
Environmental emergency records
General material designation
- textual record
Parallel title
Other title information
Title statements of responsibility
Title notes
- Source of title proper: Titled based on the content of the series.
Level of description
Series
Reference code
Edition area
Edition statement
Edition statement of responsibility
Class of material specific details area
Statement of scale (cartographic)
Statement of projection (cartographic)
Statement of coordinates (cartographic)
Statement of scale (architectural)
Issuing jurisdiction and denomination (philatelic)
Dates of creation area
Date(s)
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1985-1993 (Creation)
Physical description area
Physical description
41 cm of textual records
Publisher's series area
Title proper of publisher's series
Parallel titles of publisher's series
Other title information of publisher's series
Statement of responsibility relating to publisher's series
Numbering within publisher's series
Note on publisher's series
Archival description area
Name of creator
Biographical history
In 1991, the Ministry of Environment was disestablished. Its functions were then merged with the functions of the Ministry of Lands and Parks to create a new ministry called the Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks (OIC 1374/1991).
In 2001 the Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks was renamed the Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management when the following functions were transferred to the newly established Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection: Environmental Emergencies, Parks and Recreation, the Wildlife Branch, the Environmental Youth Team, the Environment Appeal Board and the Sustainable Environment Fund (OIC 565/2001).
Name of creator
Biographical history
In 1988, the parks function was removed from the Ministry of Environment and Parks and transferred to the newly established Ministry of Parks (OIC 1307/1988). As a result, the Ministry of Environment and Parks was renamed the Ministry of Environment, which existed from 1988/07/06 to 1991/11/04, when it was disestablished. Its functions were then merged with the functions of the Ministry of Lands and Parks to create a new ministry called the Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks (OIC 1374/1991).
Name of creator
Biographical history
In 1986, the parks function from the Ministry of Lands, Parks and Housing, was merged with the Ministry of Environment. As a result of this addition to its functions, the Ministry of Environment became known as the Ministry of Environment and Parks (OIC 1495/86). In 1988, the park function was removed and transferred to the newly established Ministry of Parks. As a result, the Ministry of Environment and Parks was renamed the Ministry of Environment (OIC 1307/1988).
Name of creator
Biographical history
In 1978, a major government reorganization transferred functions relating to lands and parks from the Ministry of the Environment to the newly established Ministry of Lands, Parks and Housing. At the same time, the functions of marine resources, fish and wildlife were transferred from the disestablished Ministry of Recreation and Conservation. Environmental health engineering was transferred from the reorganized Ministry of Health and emergency programming from the reorganized Ministry of Provincial Secretary and Travel Industry.
The reorganized Ministry of the Environment was divided into four branches: Land and Water Management, Environmental and Engineering Services, Environmental Protection, and Environment and Land Use Secretariat. In 1979 the name was revised as the Ministry of Environment, removing “the” (OIC 3018/78, see also RSBC 1979, c. 271).
In 1986, the parks function from the disestablished Ministry of Lands, Parks and Housing, was merged with the Ministry of Environment. As a result of this addition to its functions, the Ministry of Environment became known as the Ministry of Environment and Parks (OIC 1495/86).
Custodial history
Scope and content
The series contains the records from the Environmental Emergency Services Branch (EESB) of the Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks and its predecessors. The records relate to the province’s preparedness and responses to environmental emergencies, such as marine oil spills, floods, dam failures, and landslides. The records also cover planning for future management of such emergencies.
Within the records are several reviews, reports and evaluations. One such review discusses the Anderson Report and briefs the Premier on oil transportation and oil spills. It provides an action plan for the report’s recommendations for the provincial cabinet to adopt. There are also reports reviewing and evaluating the Ministry’s response activities during major oil spills including Sooke/Alaska oil spill 1989, Exxon Valdez oil spill 1989 and Nestucca oil spill 1988. Additionally, there is a final report produced by the United States/British Columbia Oil Spill Task Force as well as an EESB service plan and Year End Review (1991-1992) detailing major activities and accomplishments.
The series also contains a collection of contingency plans for environmental emergencies submitted by different corporations and government services. These include plans for dealing with disasters caused by the mishandling of dangerous goods, such as oil, gas, sour wells, ammonia etc.
Finally, a portion of the records relate to litigation by the province against perpetrators of oil spills for the environmental damage caused. The records include information about the the Rubin Lotus oil spill settlement but are mainly about the Nestucca Barge oil spill lawsuit against Sause Bros. of the United States. The records contain details of the valuation of natural resource damages as well as the out-of-court settlement from which the Province of British Columbia, Canada and the Nuu-cha-nulth Tribal Council received damages. There is also information about the resulting Trust Fund that was established to administer the money awarded through the settlement.
Notes area
Physical condition
Immediate source of acquisition
Arrangement
Language of material
Script of material
Location of originals
Availability of other formats
Restrictions on access
Some records in this series are restricted under section 14 the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act until 2023. Please contact BC Archives for more information regarding access.
Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication
Finding aids
Associated materials
Accruals
General note
Accession number(s): 92-6309