New fees to be levied on environmental assessments for industrial projects in B.C.

By MIKE YOUDS

Hundreds of projects in B.C., including the proposed Ajax Mine, face a bevy of new environmental assessment fees at each step in the regulatory process.

The new fees, which were made law by a cabinet order-in-council on April 14, are intended to provide partial recovery of costs incurred by the province’s Environmental Assessment Office.

They cover every step or “milestone” of the regulatory process for B.C. projects and could add tens of thousands of dollars in regulatory costs for the private sector. There is even a $10,000 fee if projects can be exempted from the requirement for an EA certificate.

A KGHM spokeswoman wasn’t aware of the new fees until A.M. News inquired about their potential impact.

“These are regulations imposed by government, so it would certainly be our intention to meet the requirements,” said Robin Bartlett.

The company isn’t yet at a stage in the process where the fee schedule kicks in. The fees cover three stages of each permit process: pre-certificate, transitional and post-certificate fees. Bartlett believes KGHM will face all three.

“We’re so far out still,” she said. “We’re looking at Q1 for next year before we’re submitting (the EA application).”

According to the fee schedule, KGHM will have to pay fees ranging from $60,000 to $190,000 immediately following submission of its EA application.

The EA Office said partial cost recovery will enable it to maintain appropriate staffing levels and “support other provincial agencies in their participation in the environmental assessment process.”