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Province seeking input from public on resource roads
British Columbia has an estimated 450,000 kilometres of resource (logging/mining) roads, crisscrossing over its roughly 900,000 square kilometers of Crown land.
“Resource roads connect us to the various industries that produce jobs all over British Columbia,” noted Steve Thomson, Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations, explaining why government is embarking on a policy project to establish better regulations of the roads.
“The driving force behind this project is to improve consistency in how they are managed for the benefit of industrial users and commercial users, as well as the general public and communities,” Thomson said.
British Columbians are being invited to comment on the policy project for better regulation of natural resource roads, announced Minister of Energy and Mines Rich Coleman and Thomson on Oct. 17.
The Natural Resource Road Act Project aims to establish a single legislative framework for the use, construction, maintenance and management of resource roads. This simplified process will create certainty about rules and regulations, and provide consistency for all sectors and resource road users.
A discussion paper has been prepared to inform stakeholders and to encourage feedback on proposed principles and key policies for consideration. This discussion paper is available online at: http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/mof/nrra/.
In addition to online feedback, face-to-face meetings will be held with stakeholders from a range of sectors. Submissions are being accepted until Thursday, Dec. 15, and will be used to help develop the Natural Resource Road Act.
“As key users of resource roads, the forest, oil and gas, and mining industries have all told us modernizing the current legislation would enable them to compete in today’s business environment. We are taking the steps necessary to make that happen as quickly as possible,” Coleman said.
Resource roads in B.C. are currently administered under 11 acts and associated regulations.
Learn More: Natural Resource Road Policy Project at: http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/mof/nrra/
Ian Cobb/e-KNOW
