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Only top-level descriptions British Columbia. Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks
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Freedom of information requests

  • GR-3452
  • Series
  • 2005-2007

Series consists of ministry copies of freedom of information requests that were investigated by the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner (OIPC). The files reflect the work of one government information and privacy office and that of the OIPC. There is also one file that represents a judicial appeal about one of the orders of the OIPC.

The freedom of information requests were processed by one Information and Privacy office that represented multiple ministries and related agencies. The files document requests for records from the Ministry of Environment, Land and Parks, Ministry of Water Land and Air Protection, Ministry of Sustainable Development, and Ministry of Environment, between 2000 and 2007.

The files consist of a copy of the original application for records, correspondence between staff and the applicant, correspondence between the ministry and the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner (OIPC), submissions to the OIPC, correspondence with the Legal Services Branch, and a copy of the OIPC order. These files also include photocopies of the requested pages. The files in this series were classified as 292-30 in the BC Government Operational Records Classification System (ORCS).

Ministry staff assigned a number to each of these files. Most files were assigned a number that consisted of a ministry prefix followed by a sequential number. Pre-2001 file numbers were assigned a number that reflected the year of the request followed by a sequential number.

British Columbia. Ministry of Environment (2005-2017)

Wildlife habitat assessment training materials

  • GR-3600
  • Series
  • 1997-2001

Series consists of course materials used to train staff in wildlife habitat inventories and assessments. The courses were created by the BC Government’s Resources Inventory Committee to train staff in how to create inventories of small mammals, raptors, bats, songbirds, the Marbled Murrelet and Plethodontod Salamanders.

The material includes instructor and participant manuals and workbooks. The workbooks contain a wide variety of media including overhead transparencies, slides, compact discs, cassettes, photographs and maps.

These records were classified as 17635-05 in the Administrative Classification System (ARCS).

British Columbia. Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks

LRMP First Nations consultation case files

  • GR-3697
  • Series
  • 1993 - 2009

The series consists of records relating to the development of land and resource management plans (LRMPs) vis-à-vis the consultation that occurred with First Nations during the planning process. Land and Resource Management Planning was developed in British Columbia in the 1990s as an integrated, sub-regional, consensus-building process to produce plans for review and approval by government. The plans established direction for land use and specified broad resource management objectives and strategies. LRMPs covered a number of resource sectors -- natural or social resources such as tourism, forestry or mining. The process included development, implementation, monitoring and the amendment of land and resource management plans.

The files in this series were titled and organized in most instances as case files and based on the name of the First Nations involved in the consultation process.

The records relate to the development of the consultation process between ministries and First Nation groups for LRMPs which included preparing terms of reference, conducting research and assessments, compiling and analyzing data, consulting with interested parties, presenting plan drafts, taking the proposed plan through the approval process, and monitoring after implementation.

Record types include correspondence, memoranda, recommendations including legal advice, discussion papers, draft agreements for discussion, presentations, community meeting records, maps, plans, drafts of agreements between the Province and First Nations, briefing notes prepared for the Minister and Deputy Minister, forest company information, among numerous other types of records.

The Archives has retained these records because they provide evidence of provincial policy advice and direction for the management of public lands and resources, and evidence of the consultation that occurred with First Nations groups during the resource planning process.

British Columbia. Ministry of Environment (2005-2017)

Land resource management planning files : First Nations

  • GR-3781
  • Series
  • 1995-1997

This series consists of records related to land resource management planning (LRMP) activities, specifically those of the First Nations Working Group of the Integrated Resource Planning Committee who were responsible for the inquiry into First Nations’ consultation and participation in planning. The records come from the Evaluation and Economics Branch of the Policy, Planning and Legislation Department, B.C. Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks. Specifically, most records appear to be those created and collected by Algis Janusauskas, co-chair of the First Nations Working Group. Records include his speaking notes for meetings and presentations, correspondence and annotated draft reports written by him or others within the branch or the working group.

The series does not appear to contain records from any actual consultations or negotiations with Indigenous groups, rather the records relate to ways the Ministry and Department might approach First Nations, survey the potential interests of First Nations in land-use planning and assess the lack of participation from Indigenous groups. It also includes reports that were produced after consultations with different Indigenous groups. A number of these reports were prepared internally and by external consulting groups. They include reports such as A Guiding Direction for First Nation Involvement in Land and Resource Management Planning, a socio-economic profile of the Okanagan and Shuswap First Nations, and a report on the processes for documenting First Nations’ interests in land and resource management planning. Other records include correspondence, background statements, meeting agendas and memos related to the process of determining the planning, goals, approaches and outcomes of the reports.

At the time of appraisal, the records were given file codes according to schedule 144100 (Resource Management Operational Records Classification System) and were filed under the primary and secondary numbers 17550-25 : RMP : Land and Resource Management Plans – First Nations consultation case files. The actual files have the file codes 30000-20/LRMFN written on them and are from an unknown schedule that was replaced with the above mentioned schedule.

British Columbia. Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks

Enforcement committees

  • GR-3786
  • Series
  • 1991-1997

The series consists of administrative records from the Enforcement and Environmental Emergencies Branch (and later the Enforcement Program) of the Ministry of Environment and its predecessors. Specifically, these records relate to committees of the ministry which worked in collaboration with or required the input of the Enforcement Program.

Within these files are records relating to the following committees or groups: States/British Columbia Oil Spill Task Force, Emergency Towing System Task Force, Forest Practices Code Steering Committee, Enforcement Corporate Committee, Enforcement Training Committee, Marine Spills Coordinating Committee, Spill Reporting Committee, Poaching Committee, Bear Human Conflict Committee, Municipal Sewage Regulations Implementation Committee, Compliance Committee, Conservation Office Service Management Team, Fish Hydro Committee, Forest Tech Working Group, and the Inter-Agency Enforcement Committee. The records are valuable in that they document the ministry’s responsibilities, preparation and response to environmental emergencies and violations of ministry legislation and regulations.
A large amount of these committees were created to evaluate different programs in the ministry. For example, the purpose of the Oil Spill Task Force was to examine marine oil spill prevention, response initiations and to make recommendations. This was an international endeavor with the participation of British Columbia and the states of Alaska, Washington, Oregon and California. The records document the progression of talks between participants on the subject.
The Corporate Committee records include their discussions regarding an Environment, Lands and Parks agenda for BC that would outline the priorities of the ministry while the Enforcement Evaluation Steering Committee records discuss how to evaluate the enforcement function ministry-wide. The committees’ records discussing administrative and prosecutorial enforcement activities aimed at protecting the environment, the public and property by encouraging compliance with ministry legislation and regulations, punishing offenders or deterring potential offenders and increasing public awareness. There are also records outlining initiatives to update training and equipment for conservation officers.
The types of records found in the series include meeting minutes, memos, news releases, correspondence, agenda, draft policy reports, risk analysis, conference papers, news clippings, proposals, presentations, studies, notes, financial estimates, reference material and publications. The following final reports are included in the records: Alternative Response Technologies - In Situ Burning and dispersants; Drills and Exercises - Recommendations to Prevent Marine Oil Spills Caused by Human Error; Oiled Wildlife Care Facilities; Dedicated Rescue Tug; Spill Reporting and Notification Alternatives in BC, among others.
The records are arranged according to ARCS Schedule 100001, primary 200 and secondary 20: Committees, General.

British Columbia. Ministry of Environment (2005-2017)

Information systems project files

  • GR-3796
  • Series
  • 1983-2003

The series contains the records of the System Services Branch of the Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks and its predecessors. The records relate to various initiatives in the 1980s to early 2000s to establish information systems to collect data and make it accessible to the general public. They also discuss central data systems for the use of ministry staff and issues regarding maintenance of these systems. Some records also provide a catalog of existing and proposed information systems within the Ministry.

Types of records include feasibility reports, surveys, research reports, status reports, project overviews, correspondence, proposals, presentations, training resources, information needs report and project assessments.

Projects represented in the series include:

The BC Recycling Hotline: telephone line meant to provide information to callers regarding reducing solid waste, recycling, the proper disposal of hazardous waste and alternatives to environment-damaging products and behaviours. Callers could also inquire about waste management policies, programs in their area and related legislation.

Data Warehouse (DW) project: a repository for storing data produced by BC Environment. Its aim was to improve access to integrated information within the ministry via better technology for storing, delivering and manipulating data by staff. In addition, the data warehouse was intended to serve as a single repository of Ministry data which public can access, particularly in regards to the Forest Practices Code.

Habitat Referral Tracking System Database: a system used to record, track and report on fish habitat referrals received by the Fisheries and Habitat management. Files include a manual for informatics professionals responsible for its maintenance, a proposal from Pangea Systems Inc for the design and development of the system, a training manual, memoranda, and a charter.

Integrated Pest Management Information System: a system that provides information to people about alternatives to pesticides for controlling pests. Includes 1 floppy disk.

Geographic Information Systems (GIS): data regarding locations in BC.

Environmental Protection Program (EPP) information system: includes a proposal from DMR Group Inc., project statement and status reports.

Contaminated Sites Information System: for monitoring data from different areas in the province.

FPC/FRBC Needs Analysis Project: a project to identify the information needs of businesses in the Omineca-Peace Region related to the implementation of the Forest Practices Code and Forest Renewal BC Information. Includes proposed projects and outcomes.

Water Management Branch Information Management Plan: regarding information systems and ongoing projects related to information technology in the workplace.

FRBC/Wildlife: development of a species inventory with data standards for land use planning initiatives. Also initiatives for providing information to the public to assist in preserving biological diversity in BC, including habitat mapping and ecosystem inventories. Records include the project charters, correspondence and summaries.

Detailed Ecosystem Inventory Database: provides a suite of tools to efficiently manage and operate ecosystem inventory projects with the purpose to facilitate the field collection and management of detailed ecosystem data. Records include the project charter.

Species Inventory Database Development Project: a standardized data capture system and provincial repository for wildlife inventory data. Records include a project assessment report.

Integrated Registry Project: a centralized registry that will integrate all previous and multiple systems of registers for land and resource data.

Problem Wildlife Management System: to improve the recording and reporting of problem wildlife information in support of provincial wildlife resource management.

Conservation Officer On-Line Reporting System: for monitoring offences and offenders of fish, wildlife and environmental legislation.

System for Environmental Assessment and Management: computerized data storage and retrieval capabilities for ambient and discharge monitoring results for defined sites.

Terrain Resource Information Management (TRIM) system: its aim was to migrate digital mapping and geographic data into a new relational database management system where by integration, manipulation, distribution and security would be improved. The records from this project are somewhat arranged by project phase (milestones) and include steering committee minutes and agenda, contracts, proposals, reports, reference material on different components comprising the infrastructure of the system.

British Columbia. Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks

Miscellaneous water management files

  • GR-3797
  • Series
  • 1980-1995

The series consists of three files from the Water Management Branch of the Ministry of Environment and the Water Resource Division of the Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks.
The first file includes policy recommendations from the Water Management Branch in regard to the Water Act. The records include correspondence and a status report sent by the Comptroller of Water Rights or his assistant to the Minister of Environment. There are also summaries of discussions held by select members of the Water Management Branch and its legal consultants in regard to proposals for amendments to the Water Act. These records are dated 1980.

The second file contains records from the British Columbia/Alberta technical advisory committee in regard to the Transboundary Water Management Agreement. The records include correspondence from ministers, public servants and BC Hydro and also include meeting minutes, agendas, executive summary reports on various issues regarding transboundary water matters, such as hydro dams and flooding of rivers that flow in both provinces.

The file includes records related to the Water Resource Pricing program. The program's aim was to manage water shortages, reduce inefficient water use and encourage water conservation through a water pricing framework based on consumption and supply. The records include summary reports, agendas, a consultant’s report on cost analysis and a discussion plan for a Water Pricing Workshop.

British Columbia. Ministry of Environment (1979-1986)

Integrated Management Branch records

  • GR-3800
  • Series
  • 1991-1993

The series contains various records from the Integrated Management Branch of the Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks. The records include in-office memoranda, meeting agendas of both the Branch and its various working groups and sections, meeting minutes, schedules, inter-office memoranda, informational updates and briefs, quarterly reports, some budget information and draft position papers or reports. The records serve as evidence of the Branch’s activities and positions.

The series includes 12 photographs found intermingled with the textual records. They depict participants listening to a presentation, presumably at a branch or section meeting.

British Columbia. Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks

Ad hoc committees on pollution

  • GR-3801
  • Series
  • 1994

The series contains various correspondence and notes from public servants in the Ministry of Environment in regards to pollution monitoring. The records mainly comprise printed copies of emails. The ad hoc committee was started to look into public’s opinion of voluntary permittee self-monitoring. Essentially, it was determined that the public did not trust industrial polluters to monitor their own emissions and wanted the government to intervene and enforce these polluters to pay for a monitoring program and to produce quality and reliable data in relation the amount of pollution they were creating. The correspondence in this series consists of various members of this committee discussing ideas on how to improve both pollution monitoring programs and the public’s opinion of the government in enforcing such programs.

British Columbia. Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks

BC Parks plans, programs and publications

  • GR-3803
  • Series
  • 1950-2014

The series contains records related to the management of provincial parks and protected recreational areas in British Columbia.

The records provide extensive background information on Provincial Parks areas, notably Junction Sheep Range Provincial Park, Marble Range Provincial Park, Edge Hills Provincial Park, Churn Creek protected area, Big Creek Provincial Park, Hakai Recreation Area, Ten Mile Lake and other areas in the Cariboo district. There are many photographic prints mixed in with the records, as well as other media (copies of maps, floppy disks, ephemera). The records provide important evidence of the BC Parks Division’s functions and activities in relation to park identification, establishment, management, operation and control of parks and other protected areas.
The series also contains copies of recreation related management plans and conservation related management plans, as well as original maps and published histories of BC Parks. Management plans include feasibility studies, cost analyses, contract details and plan information.

The records are arranged according to the BC Parks Operation Records Classification System (ORCS schedule 113827) and its successor the Parks and Protectes Areas Records Classification System (schedule 186896). Some common primary and secondary numbers from this series are:

82800-10: Graphic Materials Collection.
The records in this series classified under this number relate to park-related graphic materials, including original copies of brochures and reports used for publication. This includes copies of the BC Parks Guide and related records concerning their development and publication.

83500-00: Interpretive, Information, and Education programs
The records classified under this number related to various visitor programs for adults, families, children and schools organized by BC Parks. The records include information concerning the program objectives, activities, learning outcomes, schedules and attendance data. There is also information about instructors, budget, requests from schools, and thank you letters.

84360-40: Land-Management Plans - Parks and Recreation areas
The records classified under this number relate to approved park and recreation area management plan files and document the history of individual British Columbia parks and recreation areas, as well as the land-use activities permitted in those areas.

The records comprise mainly of large folders of background information relating to specific parks. They contain various analytical reports, inventories and studies on soil, wildlife, landscape and flora. Other types of records found in these folders are land value appraisals, land referrals, leases and Resource Use Permits, meeting agendas, briefing notes and correspondence referrals, management plans and progress reports, workshops, correspondence and reports on land-use recommendations.

A limited number of files also contain extensive correspondence and related files dealing with park issues, notably possible violations of the Park Act. These include legal services requisitions.

British Columbia. Ministry of Environment (2005-2017)

Environment correspondence and referral replies

  • GR-3808
  • Series
  • 1995-2009

This series contains the correspondence referral replies of the Ministry of Environment and its predecessors from 1995-2009. Executive correspondence referral replies, also known as minister’s letters, include letters to the executive and their reply letters.

Correspondence deals with a variety of issues related to the environment. Some records record the concerns and complaints from the public about environmental factors, such as the presence of pollution clouds, bad odours or waste in the environment. Others relate to different initiatives and programs proposed by the ministry. A small number of Information Notes and Decision Notes sent internally to executive members of the Ministry are also in the records. There are also letters to the editor written by the Minister to various newspapers in response to articles concerning the Ministry or the environment.

Records are mainly arranged by referral (reference) number with each chain of correspondence filed in its own folder. There are cases in which multiple people wrote in the same complaint or concern; these letters have been filed in the same folder. Records from the Minister’s Office are arranged chronologically by the date of receipt with records arranged into folders by month. Some boxes contain file lists with either a list of the sender/recipient's name and/or the subject of the letter.

The series is arranged by accession number, which contains the records created by a particular office or executive. Currently, the series contains the following eight accessions:

Accession 96-3526 contains the correspondence from the Environment Protection Division of the ministry.

Accession 93-2700 contains correspondence from the Minister’s Office Correspondence Unit. Records consist mainly of interim responses, minister reply drafts sent to the minister for approval and signing, as well as direct replies written by the Environment Protection Division on behalf of the minister.

Accession 95-5840 contains the correspondence of B.C. Environment, Prince George office, specifically correspondence sent, copied or for reply by the Director of Omineca-Peace region, Environmental Protection.

Accession 96-0105 contains the correspondence of the Environmental Stewardship and Protected Areas Division, Lower Mainland Region.

Accession 96-3531 contains correspondence from the Water Stewardship Division, Lower Mainland Region.

Accession 96-3525 contains correspondence of the Environmental Stewardship Division, Lower Mainland Region. All files also contain copies of the original letters received.

Accession 93-0681 contains letters referred to the Minister for reply.

Accession 96-9659 contains correspondence referrals from the Biodiversity Branch with topics mainly concerning wildlife protection.

Accession 95-9854 contains records from the Minister's Office with topics related to environmental protection, environmental stewardship, water stewardship and conservation officer service.

Accession 96-0944 contains correspondence related to the enforcement program and include topics such as investigations into violations of environmental laws, memos regarding BC Conservation Officer Service achievements and misconduct complaints (includes appendices on their powers and responsibilities), letters from animal rights activists, wildlife-human conflicts and general services provided by the COS.

Records in this series are classified under ARCS number 280-30.

British Columbia. Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks

Public Affairs and Communications Branch records

  • GR-3809
  • Series
  • 1995-1997

The series consists of the records of the Public Affairs and Communications Branch of the Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks. The records show how the Branch was involved with Ministry work.

Records typically relate to relations between the Ministry and the public. Currently the series includes the records from a few inter-ministerial committees on which the Branch participated. These records include meeting minutes, documents for review, notes, and other material.

The series also contains media release projects from the Ministry which were handled by the branch. These include news releases and approvals, media advisories and information bulletins dealing with various topics about the province’s environment.

British Columbia. Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks

Land and resource management planning teams

  • GR-3810
  • Series
  • 1991-2009

The series contains records relating to the development, implementation, monitoring and amendment of land and resource management plans (LRMPs). LRMPs are sub-regional integrated resource management plans that are large scale and cover a number of resource sectors (tourism, forestry, mining, etc.). There may be one to a half dozen LRMPs for each region of the province. Regions are divided into smaller management areas called sub-regions.
The records were produced by Interagency Planning Teams whose aims were to initiate and implement the management plans. This included preparing terms of reference, conducting research and assessments, compiling and analyzing data, consulting with interested parties, writing plan drafts and making changes prior to their approval. Types of records included in this series include meeting minutes, glossaries of resource planning terms, interest statements, working group documents, draft plans and comments, regional studies, briefing notes, correspondence, training materials, presentations, reports and other accompanying documents.
Accession 95-6853 contains records related to the Northern Region’s land and resource management plans. They include documents from several sub-regions including Dawson Creek, Fort St. John, Fort Nelson, Prince George region and Peace region. These particular records were produced and accumulated by planning team members from the Ministry of Forest. Accession 96-7598 contains records from the Lillooet, Kamloops and Okanagan-Shuswap planning teams.

The records are arranged according to the Resource Management ORCS (Schedule 144100) and fall under the primary number 17550 : RMP – Land and Resource Management Plans and the secondary number -60 (planning teams).

These records are different to the series Land and Resource Management Committees (GR-3793) which are classified under ARCS Schedule 100001 and primarily deal with records relating to the overseeing and implementing Land and Resource Management Plans following approval from Cabinet.

British Columbia. Ministry of Forests (1988-2005)

Water Management Division organization charts

  • GR-3811
  • Series
  • 1993-1995

The series contains organizational charts and accompanying records that explain the restructuring of the Water Management Division from the period 1993-1995. Records include explanations to changes in positions and titles.

Records are arranged according to the Administrative Records Classification System and fall under the primary number 105 : Organization.

British Columbia. Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks

Water management agreements

  • GR-3812
  • Series
  • 1993-1995

The series contains various agreements related to funding for water-related projects by the Water Management Division of the Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks. Many of the records in this series are memorandum of understanding and accompanying files detailing financial contributions from the Division toward various water studies, such as groundwater studies. There are also records regarding funding for special projects, such as flood management and dyke construction.

The records show what the projects were, who was involved with the projects and how much money the Water Management Division was able to contribute.

The records are arranged using various primary numbers from the Administrative Records Classification System (Schedule 100001) and include 152-25 : approved municipal agreements, 950-20: federal agreements and 1150-30: grant contribution case files.

British Columbia. Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks

Reference maps

  • GR-3813
  • Series
  • 1932-1995

The series contains a collection of maps used as reference in office of the Integrated Land Management Bureau and its predecessors from various ministries responsible for lands. These particular maps were transferred from the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands, Lower Mainland office in Surrey, B.C. The maps were produced by the surveys and mapping branch of the Ministry or its predecessors and cover a variety of areas in British Columbia.
The maps detail many features including roads, trails, railways, powerlines, reserved lands, surveyed lands, boundaries, campgrounds, mines, historic monuments, lighthouses, survey control stations, Forest Service lookouts, communications towers, customs offices, airports and airstrips, heliports, seaplane landings, buildings, elevations, dykes, contour swamp/marsh, intermittent lake/seasonal inundation, mud, sand, gravel, glaciers and icefields. Some maps also detail telephone lines, wells, falls, rapids, dams, cliffs, mile posts, orchards and even land lots.
The dates the maps were published do not necessarily coincide with when the data was collected to create those maps. Usually this information is present in the publication information at the bottom or top of each map. The maps would have held important reference information to Ministry workers and were probably consulted frequently. Several maps have annotations marking plots of land, new features, and other notes. Many of the maps are part of composites which can be placed next to each other to create larger maps. It is for this reason that it is believed that some duplications of the maps in this series exist. Most of the maps are topographical; however there are a few maps detailing lots and land registration as well as a few water source maps from the Water Management Division. Maps are printed on paper except for a few which are on Mylar. Maps do not appear to be arranged in any discernable order.

Maps of the following cities and areas are included in this series:
Alert Bay (1956, 1965, 1976)
Ashcroft (1966, 1975)
Boston Bar (1957)
Bowen Island
Bridge River (1970, 1979)
Bute Inlet (1960, 1970, 1991)
Buttle Lake (1977)
Campbell River (1981)
Cheakamus River (1969)
Chilliwack (1959)
Chilliwack Lake (1983, 1986, 1995)
Comox (1956)
Elko (1962)
Haslam Lake (1967)
Hope (1957, 1968)
Kamloops (1979,
Kamloops Lake (1979, 1995)
Kennedy Lake (1975)
Langley (1967, 1978, 1979)
Lardeau (1973)
Lillooet River (1979
Lytton (1968, 1979)
Manning Park (1960)
Merritt (1980)
Mount Urquhart (1955, 1960)
Mount Waddington (1968)
Nootka Sound (1960)
Pemberton (1951, 1972)
Pitt River (1973)
Port Alberni (1976)
Princeton (1980, 1995)
Revelstoke (1932)
Scuzzy Mountain (1956)
Shuswap Lake (1968)
Skagit (1960)
Spuzzum (1957, 1967)
Squamish (1952, 1972, 1982)
Sugar Lake (1956)
Texada Island (1950)
Toba Inlet (1979)
Tulameen (1958, 1978, 1986, 1995)
Vancouver (1959, 1975)
Victoria (1968)
Whistler (1993)
Yale (1966, 1976, 1979, 1995)

British Columbia. Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks

Water licence litigation files

  • GR-3814
  • Series
  • 1985-2001

The series contains the records related to major lawsuits against the Province of British Columbia and/or Canada by water export companies after the latter were refused water licenses for the bulk export of fresh water from Tzela Creek, Toba Inlet to international markets via marine tankers. The companies involved include Snowcap Waters Ltd., Sun Belt Water Inc. and Aquasource Ltd. who sought compensation for lost business opportunities.

The records provide background information to the suits, copies of documents used as evidence including correspondence, reports, environmental assessments, water licence applications, letters of concern from First Nations solicitors, copies of news articles and press coverage, letters from the public, copies of permits, project summaries and court documents.

These records originate from the offices of the Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks (Water Stewardship Division).

British Columbia. Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks

Administrative records of the Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management

  • GR-3818
  • Series
  • 1992-2007

The series consists of administrative records concerning land and resource use planning activities related to legislation, agreements, committees, reports and programs. The majority of the records come from the Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management, however some files originate from its successor body the Integrated Land Management Bureau, part of the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands. Some records may also originate from the Land Use Coordination Office.

A portion of the records deal with legislation. These records include files related to Ministry meetings on legislation, legislative programs, projects and the deregulation of statutes as recommended by the Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management, These records include proposals and numerous Requests for Legislation (RFLs), as well as status reports on the progress of bills, records of changes and a legislative calendar. Deregulation records include ministerial orders. Other orders cover the appointment of new members on advisory boards, commissions and councils (including First Nations). The records also include position statements on issues submitted by other ministries.

Report files include presentations related to land use planning and implementation, including public review drafts for general reference purposes, and trust reports such as that of the Coast Sustainability Trust.

Other records relate to conferences and committee work done by the Ministry. This includes work with the Mining Association of British Columbia, the Union of BC Municipalities, and Land and Water BC. There are also several records from committees working with or for the Fraser Basin Council Board, the Georgia Basin Ecosystem Initiative, BC Indicator’s Networking Group, and BC Rural Team. It also includes ministerial meetings and liaisons with federal agencies.

Records are mainly summary reports, agendas, summaries of decisions and actions, progress reports, minutes, schedules, information notes, speaking notes and copies of correspondence. Belonging to this series is a number of records of informational value that were physically arranged beside or near the committee files. These concern agreements such as those with Environment Canada to develop public reports and work, and with the United States to work together on the Puget Sound/Georgia Basin International Task Force, treasury board submission guidelines and the transfer of records related to commercial back country recreation from the custody of Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management to the Ministry of Small Business and Economic Development. There are also files on conferences, seminars, and symposia, again mostly related to the work of the committees. These include First Nations engagement workshops, Corporate Sustainability conference, Living Lakes conference, Fraser Basin State of the Basin conference, Georgia Basin-Puget Sound research conference, Governance for Sustainability conference, and Union of BC Municipalities conference. These files include invitations, correspondence, terms of reference, briefs, updates, event programs, organizers and sponsors, backgrounders, participants, facilitator notes, and workshop guidelines. The series also includes a limited amount of Grant files, however many grant forms are also included in committee or conference files.

The records are arranged according to ARCS schedule 100001 and cover several primary numbers under the Administrative Records Classification System (ARCS) under the primary numbers for Administration (102), Legislation (135), Agreements (146, 150), Committees (204), Conferences, seminars symposia (220), Cooperation and Liaison (235), Information services (324), Plans and programs (400), Records management (423), General reports/statistics (440) and Treasury board submissions (1250).

British Columbia. Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management

Environmental public programs

  • GR-3819
  • Series
  • 1989-1993

The series contains records related to public relations projects, mainly educational programs, organized by the Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks and its predecessors. Currently, the series covers records relating to the following exhibits, travelling shows and school programs: Eco Village at Enviro-Expo, Globe ’92, Ecozibit, Handle With Care mall show and Handle with Care school tour, and the Eco Educational School Program.

Records pertaining to the Eco Village include records from Pastiche Productions who produced the Eco Village display and produced the accompanying video for Enviro Expo in 1992. These records include correspondence to the Ministry in regards to the project, draft scripts, proposals, features, budgets and descriptions.

Travelling shows include records relating to schedules, locations, guests appearances, a guestbook, feedback, costs, publications, notes and related correspondence.

Records pertaining to school programs include correspondence and files received from Force Four Productions who produced the educational videos ft. Eddie and the Ecosaurus for the school programs. Other records include schedules of school visits, request for school materials, teacher’s guide, reading lists, thank you letters, and student activity sheets.

In addition to these records, there are also executive summaries, correspondence, schedule of visits, feedback and comments, promotional material, launch details, news releases, agenda, speaking notes, status reports, budgets, briefing notes, and copies of news articles.

The series also contains colour photographic prints. Photographs have been removed from original sheets of paper to which they were affixed and placed into acid-free paper sleeves for conservation. Photographs are found throughout the records and depict exhibit design, Eco the Ecosaurus mascot with attendees, speakers and audience members.

The records are arranged by program and are classified under the ARCS primary and secondary numbers 336-20: Public relations projects.

British Columbia. Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks

Town of Bamberton reviewable project files

  • GR-3820
  • Series
  • 1990-1993

This series contains project proposals and reports submitted by various engineering firms and consultants. The material deals with several infrastructure projects for the Town of Bamberton. The projects were deemed reviewable by the province, thus the reports deal with aspects such as feasibility, environmental impact in addition to other its impacts on other areas. Many reports include blueprints and/or technical drawings.

British Columbia. Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks

Records of the Assistant Deputy Minister, Parks Division

  • GR-3827
  • Series
  • 1993-1999

The series contains records originated from the office of Denis O’Gorman, Assistant Deputy Minister of Parks (BC Parks). The records appear to be copies saved by the ADM for convenience and reference purposes. They provide evidence of the ADM’s day-to-day activities as well as his participation in various aspects of the Parks function.
Within the records are files from the Parks Management Committee. These include minutes, agenda, expenses/budget, memos, articles, summaries of correspondence and information requests, items for discussion at meetings (including the 1996-2000 Action Plan and the 1993 Employee Survey), summaries of job vacancies and appointments, projects, notes and issues.

The series also contains several files of correspondence, including copies of letters on which the Assistant Deputy Minister was copied, correspondence referral requests assigned to the office of the ADM on the topic of the Protected Areas Strategy as well as a folder of correspondence signed by the Assistant Deputy Minister on a range of topics related to protected parks establishment and management in British Columbia.

British Columbia. Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks

Environmental emergency records

  • GR-3828
  • Series
  • 1985-1993

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.

British Columbia. Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks

Administrative records

  • GR-3830
  • Series
  • 1984-2009

The series contains miscellaneous administrative records from the Ministry of Environment (2005) and its predecessors.
The records document the history, mission and strategic priorities of the ministry and its branches as well as its organizational structures over the years. This includes the reorganization of the Planning and Assessment Branch. Furthermore, as part of a submission to the Enquiry B.C referral service, the records also contain presentations introducing the work of the ministry.

Some of the records in this series pertain to committees or ministerial meetings that deal directly with some sort of aspect of administration. For example, the Integrated Management Committee files located in this series show how the committee was formed and lay out its administrative organization. These records are classified under ARCS 102-20 Administration - Ministry meetings.

Other records in the series include those detailing the meetings between program and regional directors for all programs supported by the Ministry of Environment. These records include agenda items, minutes, summaries of goals and objectives and a review of activities.

The series also contains a Policy Log that assembles a list of memos relating to new policies put in place across the ministry and its branches. A collection of communications plans relates to how the ministry informed staff, the public and special interests groups about the new Bill 50 (Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act). The records include memos from FOI coordinators as well as correspondence and information kits meant to summarize changes to information requests.

The series include three 'transition resources books' which were created for directors in charge of announcing the new divisional and branch/regional structure phases to their employees. This restructuring was announced by the ministry in 1996. The briefing books include updated organizational charts, functions, logistics and action plans, employee letter templates, employee lists and minutes from conference calls with the Deputy Minister and meetings with the Senior Management Committee. Several more organizational charts, histories and agreements are included that focus on the transfer of functions of the Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks (MELP) to either the Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection, the Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management and the Ministry of Fisheries. As the Resource Inventory Branch and Aquatic Information Branch were transferred from MELP to the Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management, several early documents pertaining to the management of Pacific salmon are included in this series which includes working group files, stock assessments, and discussion papers. This also includes some legal files related to First Nations fishing rights.

A few administrative records stemming from the Environmental Protection Office are also included in this series. Files classified under ARCS 747 - Firearms includes a list of requests to authorize ministry employees to carry and use firearms as part of their work. These requests include the name of the employee, the purposes of their firearm (e.g. personal safety while working in bear country, collection of wildlife specimens, destroy injured wildlife, wilderness survival, scare wildlife, immobilization), description of the firearm (e.g. make/model), authorization signatures and on occasions, a short description written by the application regarding their experience and training in handling firearms. The applications are accompanied by the written policy on firearms.

Additionally, there are Ombudsman investigations files dealing with a dispute for fines issued under the Waste Management Act.

British Columbia. Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks

Parks attendance statistical reports

  • GR-3831
  • Series
  • 1958-2012

This series contains statistical reports from BC Parks detailing parks attendance and use. The series contains four main types of forms: campground attendance sheets, marine park attendance sheets, automatic traffic counter sheet and day visit count sheets. These reports count the number of visitors renting campgrounds, docking their boats, or driving through the parks gate. The reports are also used to count revenues. Typically, reports include a section for explanations where Parks staff can add notes commenting on high/low attendance numbers due to factors such as weather and holidays.
One report discusses call center and website statistics, notably documenting how many interactions convert to sales.
Occasionally, there are reports submitted from companies operating businesses on BC Parks land (e.g. water rafting adventures) which includes attendance data.

Also within the series are files describing how the reporting system works. These records explain the use of different sheets, proper procedures for recording data (both by hand or using electronic systems), lists of parks per area and layouts of park services areas including locations of gates and counters. The records also contain instructions for using the Public Safety and Park Security Online System, though no actual security reports are included within the records.

The records are organized in different ways depending on the year. Most early records seem to divide reports into years, with reports covering all parks. Around 1970, the system changed to region-based reporting with files organized by region. Within these files, the records are further classified by park name. Finally, individual attendance sheet records are arranged by month and year. Some files include a summary of stats from all districts.

British Columbia. Ministry of Environment (2005-2017)

Forest Practices Code Steering Committee records

  • GR-3833
  • Series
  • 1994-1996

The series contains the records of the Forest Practices Code Steering Committee (Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks). The Forest Practices Code was under the joint-administration of the Ministry of Forests, the Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks and the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources. The Forest Practices Code, which was one part of the Forest Renewal Strategy, sought to enforce forest management practices in British Columbia that would be economically and environmentally sustainable for future generations. It placed new requirements for land use planning, introduced more extensive and stringent forest practice legislation and brought stronger enforcement. Both the Ministry of Forests and the Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks had their own steering committee to discuss, plan and implement the Forest Practices Code. There was an additional joint steering committee for all three ministries involved in the project. At the moment, this series only contains the records created and accumulated by the Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks for its steering committee, though some files created by other ministries may be included in the records as these would have been distributed to them and discussed.

In addition to meeting minutes and agenda, there are a variety of records related to the development and implementation of the Forest Practices Code by the ministry. This includes some records from smaller sub-committees and groups such as the Technical Subcommittee, the Policy Working Group, the Resource Allocation Committee and the Implementation Team, among others, who were responsible for developing technical and administrative policy, procedures and training. The records document code development, budgets, training, new jobs created and important decisions taken by the committee. Other records include communications (memos, correspondence), organizational structure, briefing notes, memorandum of understanding, monitoring and assessment of implementation strategies, status reports, information needs analysis (for database infrastructure) and treasury board submission to release funds for delivery of the Forest Practices Code.

The records are arranged chronologically into folders. They are classified using ARCS schedule 100001.

British Columbia. Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks

Consultation case files

  • GR-3834
  • Series
  • 1991-2004

The series contains records relating to consultations conducted as part of the Land and Resource Management Planning process. These consultation case files include interactions with different agencies of the provincial government, local governments and the general public. Provincial government files mainly pertain to statements of interest from different ministries (in relation to natural resources and land use). Local government files include municipalities, regional boards and district representatives discussing their interests, concerns and how the land and resource management plans affect them (e.g. in relation to water systems, landfills, roads, park and rec programs, sewer, insect and weed control, zoning and drainage). Public consultation files consider the concerns of non-profit groups (e.g. wildlife protection groups), companies and local businesses as well as the general public.

The records include news releases and publications announcing the start of the planning process and calling for participants. The records include correspondence between public servants and others setting up meetings and open house dates. There are a number of refusal and agreement letters from prospective participants.

Throughout the files are various materials meant to inform discussions about land use and resource management. These include government reports for considerations as well as copies of legislation. There are also guideline books to help public servants with their duties and to explain the consultation process to all types of participants.

The records also include draft goals, presentations, meeting notes, status reports and reviews from those involved in the coordination of the consultation process. Finally, there are letters received from various activist groups, companies and members of the public explaining their interests in the land and resources of the region.

The records are arranged according to the Resource Management Operational Records Classification System (schedule 144100) using the following primary numbers:

17550: RMP – Land and Resource Management Plans
17730: RMP – Sustainable Resource Management Plans
And the secondary number -20 (consultation case files).

This series currently contains records from the Kamloops, Lillooet and the Okanagan-Shuswap, Cariboo Chilcotin and Kootenay tables. The records from the associated accession(s) cover all types of land use and resource planning, including landscape unit plans, sustainable resource management plans, land and resource management plans, local and regional resource use plans, and other land and/or resource use plans as they were all part of a greater land-use strategy.

British Columbia. Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management

Development case files

  • GR-3835
  • Series
  • 1989-2008

The records in this series document the development of Land and Resource Management Plans and provide evidence of the nature and evolution of the planning process.

The records are mainly organized by topic and region. They cover discussions on specific areas and subjects of concern, such as wildlife, tourism, recreation and conservation. Many of the files include discussions about existing legislation to guide plan development. The records also include other reference material such as documents related to the Protected Areas Strategy with summaries of different forest districts, literature reviews, studies, reports (particularly those about the Protected Areas Designation Process) and interim management direction statements from BC Parks. Many files relate to the LRMP table discussing possibilities to designate new protected areas through land use planning. The records also include various working group plans and recommendations, framework plans for a coordinated approach to planning, as well as guidelines to help participants write these plans.
There are also several folders organized by Resource Management Zone (RMZ) with printouts of maps depicting the area, as well as separate files for interests submitted by the Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks, Ministry of Forests, BC Assets and Land Corporation, and Ministry of Transportation and Highways.

The records are arranged according to the Resource Management Operational Records Classification System (schedule 144100) using the following primary numbers:

17550: RMP – Land and Resource Management Plans
17730: RMP – Sustainable Resource Management Plans
And the secondary number -30 (development case files).

This series currently contains records from the Kamloops, Lillooet LRMP and the Okanagan-Shuswap LRMP tables. The records from the associated accession(s) cover all types of land use and resource planning, including landscape unit plans, sustainable resource management plans, land and resource management plans, local and regional resource use plans, and other land and/or resource use plans as they were all part of a greater land-use strategy.

British Columbia. Ministry of Agriculture and Lands

Implementation and monitoring case files

  • GR-3836
  • Series
  • 1995-2006

The series contains records pertaining to the implementation and monitoring of strategic land use plans, including the development of such procedures.

The records cover a range of activities, from advisory committees, public gatherings, monitoring tables, member appointments and invitations, as well as inventories on range, wildlife, old growth forests, habitats and archaeological sites among other topics. Records particularly pertain to feedback received on approved plans prior and during implementation in order to identify issues and suggest amendments. Many of these comments come from Open House sessions with the general public. The series also includes a copy of a Implementation and Monitoring Framework as well as Terms of Reference for monitoring table duties.

The series also includes Protected Area Orders for areas chosen and approved to be protected areas under the Park Act. These orders are accompanied by maps of the area in question.
The records are arranged according to the Resource Management Operational Records Classification System (schedule 144100) using the following primary numbers:

17550: RMP – Land and Resource Management Plans
17730: RMP – Sustainable Resource Management Plans
And the secondary numbers -40 (effectiveness monitoring case files) and -50 (implementation case files).

This series currently contains records from the Kamloops, Lillooet LRMP and the Okanagan-Shuswap LRMP tables. The records from the associated accession(s) cover all types of land use and resource planning, including landscape unit plans, sustainable resource management plans, land and resource management plans, local and regional resource use plans, and other land and/or resource use plans as they were all part of a greater land-use strategy.

British Columbia. Ministry of Agriculture and Lands

Socio-economic and environmental assessment review case files

  • GR-3837
  • Series
  • 1994-2006

This series includes records relating to the review of socio-economic and environmental assessments (SEEA). The records cover the development of policy and procedures for assessments and assessment analysis. They also document the reviews that have been performed in support of Resource Management Plans.
Every resource management plan requires socio-economic and an environmental assessment to confirm the objectives and viability of the plan. Typically a consultant is hired during the creation of a plan to perform the analysis which is then examined and reviewed to verify its accuracy and objectives.

The records in this series include various ministries’ comments on plans and requests for conservation and environmental protection measures in relation to proposed plans. Government produced documents also include notices of pending environmental certificates from developers, as well as briefing notes, news releases and announcements. The series also contains the records of related working groups and committees who were involved in facilitating workshops on assessing projects, organizing the process and analyzing the assessments.

Other records include third party evaluations of proposed developments, such as resorts and landfills, and analysis and impact concerns on wildlife, water resources and the environment in addition to socio-economic impacts. Some environmental assessment certificate applications submitted by developers are also included and cover research conducted for the assessment as well as maps and graphs.

The records are arranged according to the Resource Management Operational Records Classification System (schedule 144100) using the following primary numbers:

17400: RMP – Resource Management Plans

And the secondary number -40 (SEEA review case files).

This series currently contains records from the Kamloops, Lillooet LRMP and the Okanagan-Shuswap LRMP tables. The records from the associated accession(s) cover all types of land use and resource planning, including landscape unit plans, sustainable resource management plans, land and resource management plans, local and regional resource use plans, and other land and/or resource use plans as they were all part of a greater land-use strategy.

British Columbia. Ministry of Agriculture and Lands

Policy and procedures

  • GR-3838
  • Series
  • 1993-2007

This series assembles records related to the development of policies and procedures for all aspects of Land and Resource Management Plans. Currently the series contains the following policies and procedures:
-TSA (Timber Supply Area) landscape unit plans which outline policies to establish wildlife treepatch requirements in the Kamloops TSA as described by Forest Practices Code and LRMP.

-Provincial policy for consultation with First Nations including a FAQ section, definitions of terms, procedures for the consultation process and consultation guidelines.

-Management, tenure administration and disposition of Crown Land.
-Commercial recreation on Crown Land policy.
-Crown land use planning enhancement program.
-South Okanagan regional growth strategy.

The records are arranged according to the Resource Management Operational Records Classification System (schedule 144100) using the following primary numbers:

17020: Resource Management – Aboriginal relations
17400: RMP – Resource Management Plans
17430: RMP – Ad hoc plans
17580: RMP – Landscape Unit Plans
And the secondary number -00 (policy and procedures)

British Columbia. Ministry of Agriculture and Lands

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