On December 16, 2019, the long awaited Environmental
Assessment Act, R.S.B.C. 2018, c. 51 (the “New
BCEAA”) will come into force. Despite having received royal
assent on November 27, 2018, the New BCEAA was not brought into
force for over a year largely due to the need for further
development of policies and regulations to support it. While
questions remain about potential changes to the regulations
accompanying the New BCEAA, the statute itself remains unchanged
since the granting of royal assent.
Bill 51 and the New Environmental Assessment Act
As we detailed in our November 7, 2018 post on the New BCEAA, the
Act introduces significant new changes into the
environmental assessment (“EA”) process for industrial
and resource projects in BC. Included among those changes are new
rules surrounding project notifications, early engagement and
increased public participation, along with new timelines dictating
when certain steps must be taken throughout the EA process.
