Source: https://www.leg.bc.ca/content/legacy/web/35th2nd/1st_read/gov26-1.htm
Timestamp: 2018-01-20 15:04:53
Document Index: 506207892

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 3', 'art 5', 'art.\n20', 'art 5', 'art 3', 'art 3', 'art 3', 'art 3', 'art 3', 'art 3', 'art 4', 'art 29', 'art 3', 'art 3', 'art 3', 'art 3', 'art 3']

BILL 26 -- 1993: WASTE MANAGEMENT AMENDMENT ACT, 1993
BILL 26 -- 1993
1 The definition of "remediate" in section 1 (1) of the Waste Management Act, S.B.C. 1982, c. 41, is repealed and the following substituted:
(f) other action that the Lieutenant Governor in Council may prescribe; .
2 Part 3.1 is repealed and the following substituted:
20.1 In this Part
"allocation panel" means an allocation panel established under section 20.51;
"approval in principle" means an approval in principle described in section 20.71;
"certificate of compliance" means a certificate of compliance described in section 20.71;
"conditional certificate of compliance" means a conditional certificate of compliance described in section 20.71;
"contaminated soil relocation agreement" means a contaminated soil relocation agreement referred to in section 20.81;
"detailed site investigation" means a detailed site investigation referred to in section 20.2;
"high risk orphan site" means an orphan site determined to be a high risk orphan site under section 20.92;
"minor contributor" means a responsible person determined to be a minor contributor under section 20.6;
"operator" means a person who is or was in control of or responsible for any operation located at a contaminated site, but a government body is not an operator only as a result of
(c) providing advice or information with respect to a contaminated site or any activity which took place on the contaminated site;
"owner" means a person who is in possession of, has the right of control of, occupies or controls the use of real property, including without limitation a person who has any estate or interest, legal or equitable, in the real property;
"preliminary site investigation" means a preliminary site investigation referred to in section 20.2;
"registrar" means the registrar of the site registry established under section 20.21;
"remediation order" means a remediation order under section 20.5;
"responsible person" means a person described in section 20.31;
"site investigation" means a site investigation and report referred to in section 20.2;
"site profile" means a site profile referred to in section 20.11;
"voluntary remediation agreement" means a voluntary remediation agreement referred to in section 20.61.
Division 2 - Identification of Contaminated Sites
20.11 (1) A person shall provide a site profile in accordance with the regulations
(a) to the approving officer when the person applies for or otherwise seeks approval for a subdivision, and
(i) zoning of land,
(ii) a development permit or a development variance permit,
(iii) a temporary commercial or industrial permit,
(iv) removal or deposit of soil,
(v) a building permit,
(vi) a demolition permit respecting a structure that has been used for commercial or industrial purposes, or
(vii) an activity prescribed by regulation.
(2) Subject to the regulations, an owner of real property shall provide a site profile to a manager, where the owner
(3) Subject to the regulations, an owner under the Petroleum and Natural Gas Act shall provide a site profile to a division head where the owner applies for a certificate of restoration respecting a well, test hole or production facility in accordance with section 96 of that Act.
(4) Subject to the regulations, an owner under the Mines Act, including the agent or manager of the owner, shall provide a site profile to a district inspector where the owner
(b) gives notice of intention to stop work in, on or near a mine prior to abandonment in accordance with the Health, Safety and Reclamation Code for Mines in British Columbia prepared under the Mines Act.
(5) A municipality, approving officer, division head or district inspector shall
(a) assess a site profile received under subsections (1), (2), (3) or (4) in accordance with the regulations,
(b) a purpose or activity prescribed by the regulations,
shall provide a site profile to a prospective purchaser of the real property and a manager in accordance with the regulations.
(8) A trustee, receiver and liquidator or a person commencing foreclosure proceedings, who takes possession or control of real property for the benefit of one or more creditors, shall provide a site profile to the manager immediately on taking possession or control, if the real property has been used for
(b) a purpose or activity prescribed by the regulations.
(a) has been ordered to undertake a site investigation under section 20.2,
(b) seeks and obtains a determination that the site is a contaminated site under section 20.3 (3) if prior to the determination the affected person notifies in writing the applicable municipality, approving officer, division head or district inspector, of his or her request for a determination, or
20.2 (1) A manager may order an owner or operator of a site, at the owner's or operator's own expense, to undertake a preliminary site investigation or a detailed site investigation and to prepare a report of the investigation in accordance with the regulations if the manager reasonably suspects on the basis of a site profile, or any other information, that the site
(3) When a manager receives a report of a preliminary site investigation or a detailed site investigation submitted under this section, the manager shall
(b) give notice of the determination under paragraph (a),
(4) The duty to undertake a preliminary site investigation or a detailed site investigation and to prepare a report of the investigation under this section does not apply if a person seeks and obtains a determination that a site is a contaminated site under section 20.3 (3).
20.21 (1) The minister shall
(2) A manager shall provide to the registrar, in a form suitable for inclusion in the site registry, information respecting
(b) all orders, approvals, voluntary remediation agreements and decisions, including determinations under section 20.3 (3), made by the manager under this Part,
(c) pollution abatement orders requiring remediation under section 22,
(d) notifications of independent remediation under section 20.8 (2),
(e) declarations and orders made by the minister under section 20.92, and
(4) The registrar shall enter by notation into the site registry information referred to in subsections (2) and (3) and decisions of the appeal board.
(a) shall provide for reasonable public access to information in the site registry, and
20.3 (1) A manager may determine whether a site is a contaminated site and, if the site is a contaminated site, the manager may determine the boundaries of the contaminated site.
(2) Subject to subsection (3), in determining whether a site is a contaminated site, a manager shall
(a) make a preliminary determination of whether or not a site is a contaminated site, on the basis of a site profile, a preliminary site investigation, a detailed site investigation or other available information,
(iv) any person known to a manager who may be a responsible person under section 20.31 if the site is finally determined to be a contaminated site,
(c) provide an opportunity for any person to comment on the preliminary determination,
(d) make a final determination of whether or not a site is a contaminated site,
(iv) any person known to the manager who may be a responsible person under section 20.31, and
(v) any person who has commented under paragraph (c), and
(a) provides reasonably sufficient information to determine that the site is a contaminated site,
(b) agrees to be a responsible person for the contaminated site, and
(c) waives the right to request minor contributor status.
(5) A final determination made under this section is a decision that may be appealed under Part 5 of this Act.
Division 3 - Liability
at contaminated sites
20.31 (1) Subject to section 20.4, the following persons are responsible for remediation at a contaminated site:
20.4 (1) The following persons are not responsible for remediation at a contaminated site:
(a) a person who would become a responsible person only because of an act of God and who exercised due diligence with respect to any substance that, in whole or in part, caused the site to become a contaminated site;
(f) a person described in section 20.31 (1) (c) or (d) and (2) (c) or (d) who
(i) transported or arranged to transport a substance to a site where the owner or operator of the site was authorized by or under statute to accept the substance at the time of its deposit, and
(j) an owner or operator of a contaminated site containing substances that are present only as natural occurrences not assisted by human activity and where those substances alone caused the site to be a contaminated site;
(k) subject to subsection (2), a government body that possesses, owns or operates a roadway or highway on a contaminated site, to the extent of the possession, ownership or operation;
(l) subject to subsection (3), a secured creditor who acts primarily to protect a security interest, including without limitation where the secured creditor
(i) participates only in purely financial matters of the borrower to protect a security interest,
(ii) has the capacity or ability to influence a borrower's operation in a way that would have the effect of causing or increasing contamination, but does not exercise that capacity or ability in such a way as to cause or increase contamination,
(iii) imposes requirements on the borrower that do not have an effect of causing or increasing contamination, or
(iv) with the written consent of a manager, appoints a person to inspect or investigate a contaminated site to determine future steps or action that the secured creditor might take;
(m) a person who was a responsible person for a contaminated site for which a conditional certificate of compliance or a certificate of compliance was issued and for which another person subsequently proposes or undertakes to
(n) a person who is in a class designated in the regulations as not responsible for remediation.
(2) Subsection (1) (k) does not apply with respect to contamination placed or deposited below a public road or highway by the government body that possesses, owns or operates the public road or highway.
(3) Subsection (1) (l) does not apply if the secured creditor
(a) at any time was responsible for, encouraged, suggested or gave tacit consent for the treatment, disposal or handling of a substance by another person that has resulted in any contamination at the contaminated site, or
(b) did anything without the written consent of the manager that results in
(i) any diminution or reduction of assets that could be used to remediate or satisfy the terms and conditions of a remediation order or voluntary remediation agreement, including without limitation
(B) subdivision of land, or
(ii) reduced financial or other ability of a person to remediate or satisfy the terms of a remediation order or voluntary remediation agreement.
(4) A person seeking to establish that he or she is not a responsible person pursuant to subsection (1) has the burden to prove all elements of the exemption on a balance of probabilities.
20.41 (1) A person who is responsible for remediation at a contaminated site is absolutely, retroactively and jointly and severally liable to any person or government body for reasonably incurred costs of remediation of the contaminated site, whether incurred on or off the contaminated site.
(2) For the purpose of this section, costs of remediation means all costs of remediation and includes, without limitation,
(b) costs of carrying out a site investigation and preparing a report, whether or not there has been a determination under section 20.3 as to whether or not the site is a contaminated site,
(3) Liability under this Part applies notwithstanding
(a) that the introduction of a substance into the environment is or was not prohibited by any legislation if the introduction contributed in whole or in part to the site becoming a contaminated site, and
(b) the terms of any cancelled, expired, abandoned or current permit or approval or waste management plan and its associated operational certificate which authorizes the discharge of waste into the environment.
(4) Subject to section 20.6 (3), any person, including but not limited to, a responsible person and a manager, who incurs costs in carrying out remediation at a contaminated site may pursue in an action or proceeding the reasonably incurred costs of remediation from one or more responsible persons in accordance with the principles of liability set out in this Part.
20.5 (1) A manager may issue a remediation order to any responsible person.
(3) When considering whether a person should be required to undertake remediation under subsection (2), a manager may determine whether remediation should be commenced promptly, and shall particularly consider the following:
(e) in consultation with a division head under the Petroleum and Natural Gas Act, the adequacy of remediation being undertaken under section 96 of that Act;
(4) When considering who shall be ordered to undertake or contribute to remediation under subsections (1) and (2), a manager shall to the extent feasible without jeopardizing remediation requirements
(a) take into account private agreements respecting liability for remediation between or among responsible persons, if these agreements are known to the manager, and
(6) If a remediation order or a pollution abatement order requiring remediation under section 22 is issued, and a manager has not yet determined if a site is a contaminated site under section 20.3, the manager shall, as soon as reasonably possible after the issuance of the order,
(a) determine whether the subject site is a contaminated site, in accordance with section 20.3, and
(b) make a ruling as to whether the person named in the order is a responsible person under section 20.31,
and if the person is not found to be a responsible person under paragraph (b), the manager making the order shall compensate, in accordance with the regulations, the person for any costs directly incurred by the person to comply with the order.
(7) If a manager has issued a remediation order or a pollution abatement order under section 22 and the registrar has included a notation of the remediation order or pollution abatement order in the site registry, no person shall do anything without the written consent of the manager that results in
(a) any diminution or reduction of assets that could be used to satisfy the terms and conditions of the remediation order or pollution abatement order, including without limitation
(i) disposition of real and personal assets, or
(ii) subdivision of land, or
(b) reduced financial or other ability of a person to meet the terms and conditions of the remediation order or pollution abatement order.
(8) A manager may provide in a remediation order that a responsible person at a contaminated site is not required to commence remediation for a specified period of time if the contaminated site does not present an imminent and significant threat or risk to
(9) A person who has submitted a site profile under section 20.11 (8) shall not directly or indirectly diminish or reduce assets at a contaminated site, including without limitation
until he or she requests and obtains written notice from a manager that the manager does not intend to issue a remediation order, and where the manager gives notice of the intention to issue a remediation order, or where the manager issues a remediation order, subsection (7) applies.
20.51 (1) The minister may appoint up to 12 persons with specialized knowledge in contamination, remediation or methods of dispute resolution to act as allocation advisors under this section.
(c) the responsible person's contribution to contamination and the share of the remediation costs attributable to this contamination where the costs of remediation are known or reasonably ascertainable.
(3) When providing an opinion under subsection (2) (b) and (c), the allocation panel shall, to the extent of available information, have regard to the following:
(a) the information available to identify a person's relative contribution to the contamination;
(g) in the case of a minor contributor, factors set out in section 20.6 (1) (a) and (b);
(6) Work performed by the allocation panel shall be paid for by the person who requests the opinion.
20.6 (1) A manager may determine that a responsible person is a minor contributor if the person demonstrates that
(2) When a manager makes a determination under subsection (1) that a responsible person is a minor contributor, the manager shall determine the amount or portion of remediation costs attributable to the responsible person.
(3) A responsible person determined to be a minor contributor under subsection (1) is only liable for remediation costs in an action or proceeding brought by another person or the Crown under section 20.41 up to the amount or portion specified by a manager in the determination under subsection (2).
Division 4 - Implementation of Remediation
20.61 (1) A manager may, on request by a responsible person including a minor contributor, enter into a voluntary remediation agreement consisting of
(b) a certification by the responsible person that the person has fully and accurately disclosed all information in the person's possession regarding site conditions and the person's activities respecting that site,
(b) affect or modify in any way any person's right to seek or obtain relief under other legislation or under the common law, including but not limited to damages for injury or loss resulting from contamination, or
(3) Where a manager enters into a voluntary remediation agreement and the registrar files a notation in the site registry, no person shall, without the written consent of the manager, undertake an act that reduces the ability or capacity of a person who is party to the voluntary remediation agreement to comply with the terms and conditions of the voluntary remediation agreement, including without limitation
(a) disposition of real and personal assets, and
(b) subdivision of land.
(4) A manager may stipulate in a voluntary remediation agreement that a responsible person at a contaminated site is not required to commence remediation for a specified period of time, if the responsible person demonstrates that the contaminated site does not present an imminent and significant threat or risk to
20.7 (1) A manager may order that a responsible person, at the person's own cost, provide, in accordance with any regulations, for public consultation or review of remediation that is proposed, in progress or completed.
(2) In considering the need for an order under subsection (1), a manager may take into account such factors as
(a) the size and location of the contaminated site,
(b) the nature of contamination at the contaminated site,
(c) the potential for human exposure to contamination,
(d) the impact on the environment of the contamination,
(e) migration of contamination off the site,
(f) proposed remediation methods to be used and the potential for long term health, environmental or financial impacts,
(g) opportunities for public involvement afforded by any municipal development approval process,
(h) whether consultation with the public would improve the quality of information in a site investigation,
(i) whether consultation with the public would enable a well informed choice on the preferred remediation alternative, and
20.71 (1) On application by a responsible person, a manager may issue an approval in principle stating that a remediation plan for a contaminated site
(e) the responsible person, if required by the manager, prepares in a form acceptable to a manager, registers and provides proof of registration of a restrictive covenant under section 215 of the Land Title Act.
20.8 (1) A responsible person may carry out independent remediation
(2) Any person undertaking independent remediation at a contaminated site shall
(c) order public consultation and review under section 20.7, or
(b) issue an approval in principle, a certificate of compliance or a conditional certificate of compliance under section 20.71.
20.81 (1) Subject to subsection (5), no person shall relocate contaminated soil from a contaminated site without
(5) Nothing in this Part prevents a person from depositing soil from a contaminated site in a landfill where the deposit is authorized by
(6) A municipality, including its employees or elected officials, does not incur any liability and shall not be considered a responsible person under this Act as a result of any bylaw, permit, licence, approval or other document issued under the Islands Trust Act, the Municipal Act or the Vancouver Charter that authorizes the removal or deposit of contaminated soil within the municipality.
(7) Notwithstanding section 20 (4), subsection (6) of this section does not apply if
(b) contaminated soil which originated from property owned by the municipality, or
20.9 (1) A person conducting or otherwise providing for remediation shall give preference to remediation alternatives that provide permanent solutions to the maximum extent practicable, taking into account the following factors:
(2) When issuing an approval in principle, a certificate of compliance or a conditional certificate of compliance, a manager shall consider whether permanent solutions have been given preference to the maximum extent practicable as determined in accordance with the guidelines, if any, set out in the regulations.
Division 5 - Delegation
to municipalities or other ministries
20.91 (1) The minister and a municipality may enter into an agreement enabling the municipality to exercise powers and functions described in subsection (3), except when those powers and functions apply to a contaminated site that is owned by a municipality or for which a municipality is a responsible person.
(2) The minister and any other minister of the Crown in right of British Columbia may, to enhance coordination of Provincial regulatory activities, enter into an arrangement enabling the ministry of the other minister to exercise one or more powers and functions described in this Part, except when those powers and functions apply to a contaminated site that is owned by that ministry or for which that ministry is a responsible person.
(3) Where an agreement or arrangement under subsection (1) or
(2) has been entered into, the director may delegate to one or more officials at a municipality or another ministry the powers and functions of a manager respecting any or all of the following:
(4) The director shall not delegate under subsection (3) any of the powers or functions with respect to any of the following:
(5) Where a power or function is delegated to a municipality or another ministry under this section, it may assess the fees prescribed in the regulations with respect to that power or function.
(6) Where a power or function has been delegated to an official of a municipality or a ministry, any decision of the official is a decision which may be appealed to the appeal board under Part 5.
Division 6 - Ministry Authority
20.92 (1) A manager may determine in accordance with the regulations whether
(a) a contaminated site which is not otherwise being adequately remediated, or
and where a declaration has been made, the minister may carry out remediation and recover reasonably incurred costs of remediation.
notwithstanding that the ordered action interferes with or abrogates property rights.
(4) If the minister makes a declaration under subsection (2), the manager or any officer or any person delegated by an officer may enter property and carry out remediation, notwithstanding that the entry or remediation interferes with or abrogates property rights.
(5) A person affected by an order made under subsection (3) shall comply with the order notwithstanding any other enactment.
(6) Where the minister certifies that money is required to undertake remediation under this section, the amount the minister certifies to be required may be paid out of the consolidated revenue fund.
(7) A certificate signed by the minister and showing an amount of money expended by the government under this section is conclusive as to the amount expended.
(8) Where the minister makes a declaration under subsection
(2) or an order under subsection (3), the registrar shall make a notation of the declaration on the site registry.
20.93 (1) The manager may attempt to recover all or a portion of the cost of remediation by
(2) The amount shown on the certificate under section 20.92
(6) is a debt due to the government and, subject to subsection (3), recoverable
(b) by order of the minister directing any person, who has purchased any land subject to remediation under this section, to pay to the minister instead of to the vendor an amount not exceeding the amount owing to the vendor in respect of the amounts expended in remediation, and where the purchaser pays the specified amount to the minister, the purchaser is discharged from any obligation to pay this amount to the vendor.
(6) The exception in subsection (5) does not apply in respect of a lien for wages that is, by section 15 (3) of the Employment Standards Act, postponed to a mortgage or debenture.
(7) Where the minister makes an order under subsection (2)
(b), the registrar shall make a notation of the order on the site registry.
20.94 (1) No action lies and no proceedings may be brought against the Crown, the minister, a municipality or an employee or elected official of the government or of a municipality because of anything arising out of the administration of powers, duties and functions under this Part, except where a person establishes that the Crown, the minister, a municipality or an employee or elected official of the government or of a municipality acted in bad faith.
(2) Where a municipality, including its employees and elected officials, relies on the contents of an approval in principle, a certificate of compliance or a conditional certificate of compliance in good faith, the municipality is not liable for damages arising from reliance on the approval in principle, certificate of compliance and conditional certificate of compliance.
(3) Where a municipality, including its employees and elected officials, enters into an agreement under section 20.91 enabling the municipality to issue an approval in principle or a certificate of compliance, the municipality is not liable if it relies on an approval in principle or certificate of compliance where the contents of the approval in principle or certificate of compliance have been prepared in good faith by the municipality.
Province retains right
to take future action
20.95 A manager may exercise any of the manager's powers or functions under this Part, notwithstanding that they have been previously exercised and notwithstanding any voluntary remediation agreement, if
3 Section 24 is repealed and the following substituted:
24 (1) If a person by carrying on any activity or operation contravenes section 3, 4 or 5, or a suspension or cancellation made under section 23, or an order made under Part 3.1, the activity or operation may be restrained in a proceeding brought by the minister in the Supreme Court.
(2) The making of an order under subsection (1) does not prevent the imposition of a penalty in respect of an offence under section 3, 4 or 5, or a suspension or cancellation made under section 23, or an order made under Part 3.1.
(17) A person who
(a) fails to submit a site profile under section 20.11 (1), (2), (3), (4), (7), (8) or (9),
(b) fails to undertake a preliminary site investigation or a detailed site investigation and to prepare a report of the investigation under section 20.2 (1) or (2),
(c) fails to comply with a remediation order under section 20.5,
(d) reduces the ability of any person to comply with the terms and conditions of an order under section 20.5 (7) or an agreement under 20.61 (3),
(e) fails to seek an opinion from an allocation panel if required to do so under section 20.51 (4),
(f) fails to comply with the terms and conditions required by a manager in a voluntary remediation agreement under section 20.61 (1),
(g) fails to notify a manager of independent remediation under section 20.8 (2),
(h) fails to comply with requirements of a manager regarding independent remediation under section 20.8,
(i) relocates contaminated soil without a contaminated soil relocation agreement where required under section 20.81 (1), or
(j) fails to comply with a provision of the regulations under section 35.1
35.1 (1) Without limiting section 35, the Lieutenant Governor in Council may make regulations
(a) prescribing other action for the purpose of the definition of "remediation" in section 1, including but not limited to routine procedures applicable to remediation of contamination associated with underground storage tanks,
(b) respecting the content and procedures for site profiles and site investigations,
(c) respecting the duty to provide a site profile, including criteria for assessment, the circumstances in which a site profile must be provided, deadlines for submitting a site profile and a manager's powers respecting site profiles,
(d) respecting disclosures by persons not specified in section 20.11, including without limitation disclosures by lessors and lessees,
(e) prescribing fees authorized by Part 3.1 including, without limitation, fees for assessing or reviewing site profiles, site investigations and studies and reports of remediation and for making determinations under section 20.3,
(f) respecting the content of the site registry and the management of and procedures relating to the site registry, including requirements for persons to submit information to the registrar,
(g) designating classes of persons as responsible persons in addition to those referred to in section 20.31,
(h) designating classes of persons who are not responsible persons in addition to those referred to in section 20.4,
(i) respecting modifications, interpretive guidelines and procedures for any exemptions set out in section 20.4,
(j) respecting the duties and rights of vendors and purchasers of property that may be contaminated,
(k) respecting remediation orders, voluntary remediation agreements and voluntary remediation procedures,
(l) respecting remediation, including guidelines for preparation of remediation studies and plans and guidelines for assessing whether permanent solutions have been used to the maximum extent possible,
(m) respecting review of remediation by a manager,
(n) respecting the establishment of the allocation panel, the conduct of and procedures at the panel deliberations, fees for panel members and factors that must be considered in allocating responsibility,
(o) respecting procedures governing minor contributors,
(p) respecting approvals in principle, certificates of compliance and conditional certificates of compliance,
(q) respecting a manager's power with respect to a person who fails to comply with an order made under Part 3.1,
(r) prescribing assessment and remediation standards including standards to be used for the purpose of the definition of "contaminated site",
(s) respecting compensation payable under Part 3.1,
(t) setting out the requirements for public notice and the opportunity for public comment that apply to particular initiatives under Part 3.1,
(u) establishing substantive and procedural requirements for the planning, conduct and reporting of remediations of particular types of contamination,
(v) prescribing procedures and standards applicable to contaminated soil relocation and contaminated soil relocation agreements under section 20.81 (3),
(w) requiring a person who moves soil from a contaminated site to another location to provide to the ministry prescribed information in a format suitable for inclusion in the site registry, and
(x) establishing transitional requirements for remediation that has commenced prior to the coming into force of this section.
(2) A regulation made under subsection (1) may delegate to the director, an officer or a manager those powers and functions as the Lieutenant Governor in Council considers desirable.
6 The Islands Trust Act, S.B.C. 1989, c. 68, is amended by adding the following section at the end of Part 4:
31.1 A local trust committee shall not approve an application for
(a) zoning and rezoning including siting and use permits,
(b) development permits and development variance permits,
(c) subdivision,
(d) removal or deposit of soil, or
(e) activities prescribed by regulation under the Waste Management Act,
if the local trust committee
(f) has not received a site profile under section 20.11 of the Waste Management Act,
(g) has received a site profile but has not sent it to the manager under section 20.11 (5) (b) of the Waste Management Act,
(h) has sent a site profile to the manager under section 20.11 (5) (b) of the Waste Management Act but the local trust committee has not received notice of a final determination under section 20.3 (2) or (3) of that Act, or
(i) has not received a valid and subsisting approval in principle, conditional certificate of compliance or certificate of compliance under section 20.71 of the Waste Management Act from the person making an application described in paragraphs (a) to (e) above.
7 The Land Title Act, R.S.B.C. 1979, c. 219, is amended by adding the following section:
85.1 Notwithstanding section 85, an approving officer shall not approve an application for subdivision if the approving officer
(a) has not received a site profile under section 20.11 of the Waste Management Act,
(b) has received a site profile but has not sent it to the manager under section 20.11 (5) (b) of the Waste Management Act,
(c) has sent a site profile to the manager under section 20.11 (5) (b) of the Waste Management Act but the approving officer has not received notice of a final determination under section 20.3 (2) or (3) of that Act, or
(d) has not received a valid and subsisting approval in principle, conditional certificate of compliance or certificate of compliance under section 20.71 of the Waste Management Act from the person making an application for subdivision.
8 The Mines Act, S.B.C. 1989, c. 56, is amended by adding the following section:
10.1 The chief inspector shall not approve an application for any permit or for revisions to the conditions of an existing permit under section 10 of the Mines Act unless a site profile has been submitted to the district inspector under section 20.11 (4) of the Waste Management Act.
9 Section 930.1 of the Municipal Act, R.S.B.C. 1979, c. 290, is amended by adding the following subsection:
(3.1) A provision in a bylaw under subsection (2) that prohibits the deposit of soil or other material and that makes reference to quality of the soil or material or to contamination, has no effect until the provision is approved by the minister with the concurrence of the Minister of Environment, Lands and Parks.
10 Section 981 is amended by adding the following subsection:
(6) Any requirement to approve a permit or licence under this section is subject to section 1000.
11 Part 29 is amended by adding the following Division:
Division (9) - Contaminated Sites
Assessment of site profiles
999 (1) In this Division, "municipality" means a city, town or village incorporated by or under an Act, and includes a district municipality and a regional district.
(2) A municipality shall, by bylaw
(a) assess site profiles referred to in section 20.11 (1) of the Waste Management Act, and
(b) in accordance with section 20.11 (5) of the Waste Management Act, provide site profiles to a manager.
1000 Notwithstanding section 981,
(a) an approving officer shall not approve a subdivision, and
(b) a municipality shall not approve an application for
(i) zoning,
(ii) development permits and development variance permits,
(iii) removal or deposit of soil,
(iv) building permits,
(v) demolition permits respecting structures that have been used for commercial or industrial purposes, or
(vi) activities prescribed by regulation under the Waste Management Act,
if the municipality or the approving officer
(c) has not received a site profile under section 20.11 of the Waste Management Act,
(d) has received a site profile but has not sent it to the manager under section 20.11 (5) (b) of the Waste Management Act,
(e) has sent a site profile to the manager under section 20.11 (5) (b) of the Waste Management Act but the municipality or approving officer has not received notice of a final determination under section 20.3 (2) or (3) of that Act, or
(f) has not received a valid and subsisting approval in principle, conditional certificate of compliance or certificate of compliance under section 20.71 of the Waste Management Act from the person making an application described in paragraph (b) (i) to (vi).
1001 A municipality may by bylaw enter into and implement agreements referred to in sections 20.81 and 20.91 of the Waste Management Act.
12 The Petroleum and Natural Gas Act, R.S.B.C. 1979, c. 323, is amended by adding the following section:
96.1 The division head shall not approve an application for a certificate of restoration respecting a well, test hole or production facility in accordance with section 96 where the division head
(c) has sent a site profile to the manager under section 20.11 (5) (b) of the Waste Management Act but the division head has not received notice of a final determination under section 20.3 (2) or (3) of that Act, or
(d) has not received a valid and subsisting approval in principle, conditional certificate of compliance or certificate of compliance under section 20.71 of the Waste Management Act from the person making an application for a certificate of restoration respecting a well, test hole or production facility in accordance with section 96.
13 The Property Law Act, R.S.B.C. 1979, c. 340, is amended by adding the following sections:
36 Where a vendor of real property fails to provide a site profile to a purchaser under section 20.11 (7) of the Waste Management Act, the purchaser may exercise any remedies under the common law or under the regulations.
37 The Lieutenant Governor in Council may make regulations respecting the remedies of a purchaser under section 36.
14 The Vancouver Charter, S.B.C. 1953, c. 55, is amended by adding the following sections at the end of Part XXVII:
571B Notwithstanding section 570,
(a) the approving officer shall not approve a subdivision, and
(b) the Council shall not approve an application for
(ii) development permits or development variance permits,
if the Council or the approving officer
(d) has received a site profile but has not sent it to the manager under section 20.11 (5) of the Waste Management Act,
(e) has sent a site profile to the manager under section 20.11 (5) of the Waste Management Act but the Council has not received notice of a final determination under section 20.3 (2) or (3) of that Act, or
Agreements for regulating
571C The Council may by bylaw enter into and implement an agreement referred to in sections 20.81 and 20.91 of the Waste Management Act.
SECTION 1: amends section 1 of the Waste Management Act to repeal the definition of "remediate" and replace it with a definition of "remediation".
SECTION 2: repeals and replaces Part 3.1 of the Act to provide a comprehensive process for managing contaminated sites including sections relating to the following matters:
proposed section 20.1 provides for definitions;
proposed section 20.11 requires certain persons to provide disclosure known as "site profiles" to specified government or municipal officials;
proposed section 20.2 allows a regional waste manager to order site investigations, on a case by case basis, where contamination is probable;
proposed section 20.21 allows the minister to establish a site registry and appoint a registrar;
proposed section 20.3 allows a manager to determine if a site is a contaminated site;
proposed section 20.31 lists in a broad fashion the persons who are liable to remediate a contaminated site;
proposed section 20.4 provides exemptions from the general list of persons who are liable to remediate a contaminated site;
proposed section 20.41 sets out the principles of liability that will apply to responsible persons;
proposed section 20.5 allows a manager to order remediation of a contaminated site;
proposed section 20.51 provides for a panel of specialists to advise on the allocation of liability with respect to a contaminated site;
proposed section 20.6 provides that persons who have a minor share of the responsibility may be classed as minor contributors and have their share of the liability specified by a manager;
proposed section 20.61 allows for voluntary remediation agreements to expedite a remediation project by a person who accepts responsibility;
proposed section 20.7 allows a manager to require a responsible person to carry out public consultation and review;
proposed section 20.71 allows for the issue of approvals in principle, conditional certificates of compliance and certificates of compliance relating to the remediation of a contaminated site;
proposed section 20.8 allows for remediation to be carried out independently with less government involvement;
proposed section 20.81 provides for contaminated soil relocation agreements to control deposit of soil from contaminated sites;
proposed section 20.9 provides that permanent remediation solutions are to be preferred when choices are made under the Act;
proposed section 20.91 allows for the delegation of certain aspects of the remediation process to municipalities and other ministries;
proposed section 20.92 provides the minister with the power to declare that a significant human health or environmental concern has arisen at a contaminated site and, on the basis of that declaration, to enter the site and remediate the contaminated site;
proposed section 20.93 allows the minister to recover costs of remediation incurred at a contaminated site;
proposed section 20.94 provides that government and municipal officials acting within their powers under Part 3.1 are immune from liability if they act in good faith;
proposed section 20.95 preserves the right of the government to take future action where new information is discovered with respect to a site.
SECTION 3: repeals and replaces section 24 of the Act to add a reference to Part 3.1 so that contraventions of orders under that Part can be restrained by order of the Supreme Court.
SECTION 4: amends section 34 of the Act to add offences under Part 3.1 and to provide for a maximum fine of $200 000.
SECTION 5: adds section 35.1 to the Act to provide regulation making authority for regulations contemplated by Part 3.1.
SECTION 6: makes a consequential amendment to the Islands Trust Act.
SECTION 7: makes a consequential amendment to the Land Title Act.
SECTION 8: makes a consequential amendment to the Mines Act.
SECTIONS 9 to 11: make consequential amendments to the Municipal Act.
SECTION 12: makes a consequential amendment to the Petroleum and Natural Gas Act.
SECTION 13: makes consequential amendments to the Property Law Act.
SECTION 14: makes consequential amendments to the Vancouver Charter.