This Act provides the ministry with the authority to manage, protect and enhance the environment. Responsibilities include developing environmental policies; providing information to the public about the environment; preparing policies, strategies, and objectives and standards for the protection and management of the environment. The Act authorizes research, investigations and enforcement. The Act also requires the preparation of plans for flood control, drainage, soil conservation, water resource management, fisheries and aquatic life management, wildlife management, waste management, and air management. The Act provides for the regulation of some environmental assessments, the issuance of environmental protection orders; the declaration of environmental emergencies and the allocation of required resources to control emergencies and the recovery of moneys spent during an emergency from the responsible party. The Act provides for the Environmental Appeal Board.

Act: Environment Management Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 118

Regulations:

• Environmental Appeal Board Procedure Regulation (B.C. Reg. 1/82)
• Environmental Data Quality Assurance Regulation (B.C. Reg. 301/90)
• Environmental Impact Assessment Regulation (B.C. Reg. 330/81)

Ministry: Environment

• Ministry of Agriculture and Lands Legislative Summaries
• Other BC Government Ministries' Legislative Summaries
• Federal Legislation