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Archival description
Series Water pollution--British Columbia
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Thompson River Basin pre-planning study records

  • GR-3993
  • Series
  • 1975-1981

This series consists of reports, correspondence and other records related to the Thompson River Basin pre-planning study from 1975-1981. Most records were created or used by the Water Management Branch and Water Investigations Branch.

The records relate to a federal-provincial agreement to conduct a pre-planning study of water in the Thompson River Basin. The study was intended to describe the basin’s water resources, and identify existing and potential water resource problems related to water quality and quantity. The study was to begin looking at solutions to these problems and the value of a longer-term planning study. Records document the creation and implementation of the study which involved multiple ministries from both the provincial and federal governments. The study involved scientific studies and public consultation to gain an understanding of water management issues in the area, and their associated land use and economic activity.

Records include correspondence, draft studies, reports used as reference material, minutes, maps, photographs and newspaper clippings.

Records were selected for permanent retention under one time schedule number 890487.

British Columbia. Water Management Branch

Environmental Appeal Board appeal records

  • GR-3999
  • Series
  • 1964-1987

This series consists of appeal files and other records from the Environmental Appeal Board, 1981-1987. The series also includes some appeal or hearing files from its predecessors, the Pesticide Control Appeal Board and Pollution Control Board dating back as early as 1964.

The appeals relate to a variety of permits and licences issued by the government to manage the use of various natural resources and other aspects of the environment. Appeal files are grouped by the piece of legislation they relate to.

Appeals and hearings under the Pesticide Control Act (RSBC 1979 c. 322) include the use and application of pesticides and herbicides for purposes including weed control, mosquito control, and wildlife (wolf and coyote) control. Most appeals wish to amend or cancel pesticide permits due to concerns including poison leeching into water supply, and injury to people or other animals.

Appeals under the Wildlife Act (SBC 1982 c. 57) relate to restoring hunting and guide outfitter licences which had been cancelled or amended as a result an of alleged contravention of the Wildlife Act.

Appeals under the Water Act (RSBC 1979 c. 429) may relate to the application, cancellation or amendment of water licences as well as other issues relating to water quality and quantity.

Appeal under the Waste Management Act (SBC 1982 c.41) and the Pollution Control Act (RSBC 1979 c. 332) relate to attempts to cancel or amend waste management permits. Permits may relate to disposing of sewage and other waste materials through burning, landfills, and release into the air or a body of water.

Appeal files may include respondent’s submissions, precedents, transcripts, exhibits, petitions, copies of permits, correspondence from stakeholders, maps, photographs, decisions, responses to decisions, permits, court records, newspaper clippings, and administrative records related to organizing the appeals.

The series also includes some transcripts of proceedings; reports or other reference material; day copies of correspondence from the Associate Deputy Minister E.H. Vernon and Deputy Minister Lloyd Brooks; and other administrative records relating to the operation of the Appeal Boards. There are also some court records related to cases that were appealed to the Supreme or Provincial courts.

Transferred under one-time schedule number 870581.

British Columbia. Environmental Appeal Board

Waste management area files

  • GR-4037
  • Series
  • 1948-1981

This series consists of waste management files for areas across the province from 1948-1981. The records were created by the Pollution Control Branch of the Ministry of Environment, and its predecessors. They document the management of waste outside the waste management permit system, but still under the authority of the Waste Management Act (SBC 1982 c. 41).

Waste management can involve the disposal or mitigation of: water pollution, assessing water quality, sewage, waste from slaughterhouses and canneries, garbage and other solid waste, heavy metals, oil, agricultural or manure, and other industrial discharges.

Topics addressed in the files include: major federal-provincial or international activities or issues related to large areas such as an entire watershed; assessments of the environmental health of certain areas of the province through various tests, sampling, inspections and surveys; liaison with other waste management authorities in the province, such as municipalities and other levels of government; correspondence with individuals or groups making complaints or voicing concerns over environmental issues and waste disposal; and correspondence with potential permittees prior to application of a waste management permit.

Records include correspondence, memoranda, water quality reports, studies, statistical data, agreements, newspaper clippings, photos and maps.

Some of the larger files regard places such as: Columbia River basin, Buttle Lake, Fraser River, Kamloops, Kelowna, Libby Dam, Naramata, Okanagan Basin, Thompson River, Trail Cominco Mine, Victoria, and the Greater Vancouver area. However, other files relate to other municipalities and bodies of water across the province.

The records are arranged alphabetically by area or place. Some files contain records related to multiple places beginning with a particular latter. For example, the 'Area “D”' file includes records on Deroche, Dawson Creek, Deadman Creek, etc.

British Columbia. Pollution Control Branch

Fish and Wildlife Branch executive records and staff correspondence files

  • GR-4098
  • Series
  • 1966-1979

This series consists of correspondence created or received by various employees in the Department of Fish and Wildlife from 1969-1979. This includes correspondence inwards and outwards from the Minister of the Department of Recreation and Conservation, who led the Branch at this time. The majority of the records are correspondence files, often referred to as flimsies. There are also a variety of subject files kept by the Deputy Minister and Assistant Deputy Minister. The records relate to a wide variety of topics such as habitat protection, pollution, the impacts of resource extraction projects, impacts of recreation activities, wildlife management, policy development, legislation, intergovernmental projects, fisheries management, the Mair Report, and the McCarthy Hearing or Paish Affair.

The series includes correspondence to and or from the following individuals: William K. Kiernan and Jack Radford, Minister of Recreation and Conservation; Director of Fish and Wildlife Branch; D.J. Robinson, Assistant Director, Management and Development; D.M. Galbraith, G.D. Taylor, and M.R. Whatley, Fish Habitat Improvement; E.H. Vernon, Chief of Fisheries Improvement; R.C. Thomas, Fisheries Management; I.L. Wither and C.J. Bull, Fish Habitat protection; D. Demarchi, D.R. Halladay and W.A. McKay, Wildlife Biologist; RAH Sparrow, Biologist; JG Terpenning, Superintendent of Hatcheries; K.R.D. Mundy, Assistant Chief of Wildlife Management; and W.G. Smith, Chief of Wildlife Management. Many other individuals may be included in the records, as many of the records are convenience copies sent to other executives as a reference. The minister's correspondence files may include letters written to or from other executives, such as the Deputy Minister.

Records also include memos and subject files used by particular employees. Correspondence files may include reports, maps and other enclosures. Correspondence referral replies are generally letters sent to the Minister or other executives and forwarded to other relevant employees for an answer. Many of these letters are from members of the public raising concerns over environmental issues such as pollution or industrial activities.

The series also include statistical summary sheets showing the number and types of licences (hunting, fishing, etc.) issued in each Agency from 1966-1969.

British Columbia. Fish and Wildlife Branch

Buttle Lake reports and studies

  • GR-4171
  • Series
  • 1967-1983

This series consists of reports, studies and data related to the monitoring of water pollution resulting from nearby mining operations in Buttle Lake and the greater Campbell River watershed on Vancouver Island. The records were created by the Water Management Branch, predominantly from 1981-1983. The records relate to short and long term studies on the bioaccumulation and other impacts of heavy metals and mine tailings on the water, sediment, plankton, animals and plants in the lake. The records include final reports, studies, drafts, maps, raw data, water quality reports, notes, correspondence, charts, graphs and tables.

British Columbia. Water Management Branch

Ministry of Environment executive records

  • GR-4189
  • Series
  • 1977-1991

This series consists of executive records created by the Ministry of Environment, and its successor, the Ministry of Environment and Parks, from 1978-1991.

The records relate to all functions of the Ministry of Environment. This includes, but is not limited to, the creation and management of Provincial Parks, such as Strathcona; mining in parks; hunting; trapping and traplines; guide outfitters; fishing; Indigenous hunting and land rights; wildlife management, including wolf control; game farming; fish farms and aquaculture; water rights and management; Ministry centralization and reorganization; the privatization of Ministry functions, including the Environmental Lab; conservation and habitat management; water rights and water licences; flood prevention and mitigation; the creation and management of dams and dykes; land use; pollution, including air, chemical, solid waste and sewage; waste management, including landfills and sewage systems; coal mining; pesticides and herbicides; conservation officers, including enforcement and prosecutions; the drafting of legislation and orders-in-council; flood claims, control and prevention; and surveys and mapping.

Records include correspondence from the public and within government, briefing notes, meeting minutes, minister's speeches, Cabinet submissions, Treasury Board submissions, reports, agreements, legislation, variance orders, brochures, agreements, policies, procedures, maps and photos.

The records were created by the following executive:

Charles Stephen Rogers, Minister, 1979-1983
Anthony Julius Brummett, Minister, 1983-1985
Forbes Charles Austin Pelton, Minister, 1985-1986
Charles Stephen Rogers, Minister, 1986-1987
William Bruce Stracham, Minister, 1987-1989

Earle D Anthony, Assistant Deputy Minister (ADM) Regional Operations, 1979-1981
Earle D Anthony, ADM Environmental Management, 1982-1987
Earle D Anthony, ADM Programs, 1987-1988
Earle D Anthony, Acting DM, 1988
Richard L Dalon, Deputy Minister, 1988-[1990]
Ben E Marr, Deputy Minister, 1974-1987
Allan Murray, ADM Conservation, 1978-1979
Allan Murray, ADM Environmental Management, 1980-1982
Allan Murray, ADM Regional Operations, 1983-1985
GE Simmons, ADM, Environmental Management, 1979-1981
WN Venables, ADM Environmental Protection, 1979
WN Venables, ADM Assessment and Planning, 1980-1984

British Columbia. Ministry of Environment (1979-1986)

Department of Environment executive records

  • GR-4198
  • Series
  • 1958-1981 (predominantly 1970-1977)

This series consists of records created by the Ministry of the Environment, the Department of Environment and their predecessors departments, such as the Department of Lands, Forests and Water Resources. The majority of the records were created from 1970-1977.

Records relate to department administration, organization charts, reorganization, pollution control, water resources services and the agricultural land reserve.

The records relate to all functions of the Department of Environment. This includes, but is not limited to, the creation and management of the Department of the Environment; managing protected areas; hunting; trapping and traplines; guide outfitters; fishing; Indigenous hunting and land rights; wildlife management, including wolf control; game farming; fish farms and aquaculture; water rights and management; Ministry centralization and reorganization; the establishment of the Environmental Lab; conservation and habitat management; water rights and water licences; flood prevention and mitigation; the creation and management of dams and dykes; land use; pollution, including air, chemical, solid waste and sewage; waste management, including landfills and sewage systems; coal mining; pesticides and herbicides; conservation officers, including enforcement and prosecutions; the drafting of legislation and orders-in-council; flood claims, control and prevention; and surveys and mapping.

Records include correspondence from the public and within government, briefing notes, meeting minutes, minister's speeches, Cabinet submissions, Treasury Board submissions, reports, agreements, legislation, agreements, policies, procedures, maps and photos.

The records were created by the following executive:

Ray Gillis Williston, Minister of Lands, Forests and Water Resources, 1962-1972
Robert Arthur Williams, Minister of Lands, Forests and Water Resources, 1972-1975
James Arthur Nielson, Minister of Environment, 1975-1978
Kenneth Rafe Mair, Minister, 1978-1979
Charles Stephen Rogers, Minister, 1979-1983

Ben E Marr, Assistant Deputy Minister (ADM), Water Resources, 1973-1975
Ben E Marr, Deputy Minister, 1974-1987
Allan Murray, ADM Conservation, 1978-1979
V Raudsepp, DM, Water Resources, 1970-1973
GE Simmons, ADM, Water Resources, 1975
GE Simmons, ADM, Water and Air, 1976
GE Simmons, ADM, Environmental and Engineering, 1977-1978
GE Simmons, ADM, Environmental Management, 1979-1981
WN Venables, ADM Environmental Protection, 1979
Ed H Vernon, ADM, Conservation, 1974-1978

British Columbia. Dept. of Environment