Title and statement of responsibility area
Title proper
Records of the Royal Commission on Uranium Mining
General material designation
- textual record
Parallel title
Other title information
Title statements of responsibility
Title notes
- Source of title proper: Title based on contents of 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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1969-1980 (Creation)
Physical description area
Physical description
2.3 m 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
Appointed by Order-in-Council no. 170, January 18, 1979; terminated by Order-in-Council no. 442, February 27, 1980. Commissioners: David V. Bates (Chairman), James W. Murray, Valter Raudsepp. The Commissioners were appointed in 1979 to inquire into the adequacy of existing measures to provide protection in all aspects of uranium mining in British Columbia especially as to worker and public safety and protection of the environment. First interim report on uranium exploration, August 15, 1979. The Government terminated the Commission on February 27, 1980 and asked the Commissioners to report their findings by May 31, 1980. On this date the Government ordered a seven year moratorium on the locating and recording of mineral claims for the purpose of uranium exploration and the development of uranium deposits on existing claims. The Commission requested an extension to continue to receive submissions to April 15, 1980 and to complete their report by October 30, 1980. This was granted by Order-in-Council no. 597, March 13, 1980. Commissioners' reported October 30, 1980.
Custodial history
The records were in the custody of the Library Services branch prior to their transferal to the BC Archives by the Ministry of Forests, Lands, and Natural Resource Operations.
Scope and content
The series consists of clippings files, reports, published material, and exhibits and submissions used in the work of the Royal Commission on Uranium Mining between 1979 and 1980, although some of the records themselves date back to the 1960s. At some point following their usage, the records were transferred to the Library Services branch of the Ministry of Employment and Investment. It is unclear whether or not the Library Services branch further arranged the records or whether material was added to the records at this time. Many of the reports and exhibits mirror Royal Commission holdings in other series, but the provenance of the newspaper clippings files is unclear.
The series is arranged by type of record. Containers 930210-0002 and 0004 contain third party reports. Many of these document work done in Japan. Containers 930210-0015, 0024, and 0027 contain clippings collected from newspapers across BC, as well as several from Alaska and the United Kingdom. Many of the newspaper articles are arranged by date, although some are arranged by subject matter. Container 930210-0034 contains published materials from a variety of sources, including the International Atomic Energy Agency, the United Nations, the World Health Organization and the works of the Royal Commission itself. Container 930210-0039 contains transcripts and submissions from the Royal Commission. Container 930210-0040 also contains exhibits from the Royal Commission. Records in boxes 930210-0039 and 930210-0040 are stamped with a unique four-digit “S” number. It is unclear whether this was a number assigned by the Royal Commission or whether it was added by the Library Services branch at a later date.
Accession records created while the records were still in the custody of the Library Services branch show that several boxes were destroyed after being deemed duplicates of material already held by the Archives. The records are classified under special schedule 112907 (Commission of Inquiry records), which states that “commission of inquiry records are the administrative and operational records of the office of the chair of any commission issued or inquiry held under the Inquiry Act (RSBC 1996, c. 224).
Notes area
Physical condition
Immediate source of acquisition
The records were transferred by the Ministry of Forests, Lands, and Natural Resource Operations in October 2016.
Arrangement
Language of material
Script of material
Location of originals
Availability of other formats
Restrictions on access
These records are subject to the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act or other acts and access may be restricted. Please contact the BC Archives to determine the access status of these records.
Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication
Finding aids
Associated materials
For related records of the Royal Commission on Uranium Mining, please see GR-0882, GR-2582 and V1988:50.
Accruals
General note
Accession number(s) : 93-0210