This series consists of mine development assessment process files for coal and metal mine projects from 1974-1986. The records relate to the review and approval of proposed mining projects in BC. They document the determination of legal conditions under which companies may build and operate major mines. This process was called the mine development review process. The records show the ways that different projects were treated and provide evidence of a company’s level of compliance with their agreed development conditions.
Some of the early records were created by the Environmental and Land Use Committee (ELUC) of Cabinet. After around 1979, the majority of records are created by either the Coal Guidelines Steering Committee (CGSC) or the Metal Mines Steering Committee (MMSC). These committees were primarily part of the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources, but worked with the ELUC and other ministries to approve projects.
Projects may be reviewed by the Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Forests, Ministry of Lands, Ministry of Transportation and Highways, Ministry of the Provincial Secretary, Ministry of Municipal Affairs, Ministry of Labour, Ministry of Health and federal bodies such as Environment Canada.
Companies may have been required to conduct research and provide reports on potential impacts of the project in compliance with the guidelines for coal development or procedures for obtaining approval of metal mine development
The assessment process involved consideration of many factors in developing a mine. Potential issues include: water management; acid generation; fish and wildlife impacts; air pollution; air monitoring; waste management; geotechnical impacts; ground and surface water impacts; pollution control; permit acquisition; radioactivity assessment; reclamation plans; road construction; heritage impact assessments; public opinions; and socioeconomic impacts on nearby communities.
Records include correspondence, policy, procedures, meeting minutes, reports, maps, newspaper clippings, photos, reports and technical data. Many records are copies of originals which were provided to multiple committee members for reference.
The records are divided into several groups: Metal Mines Steering Committee files, coal files, southeast coal projects, northeast coal projects and Coal Guidelines Steering Committee records. Within these groupings, files are arranged alphabetically by the name of project.
The records are scheduled under one time schedule 880049.
British Columbia. Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources (1978-1996)