Minerals

Mineral resource management is driven by the relative rarity of high quality, economically viable mineral deposits that can be profitably developed at any one time. There are static and dynamic elements to managing this resource: static, in that mineral deposits are hidden and fixed in place and dynamic, in that the socio-economic context of mining is highly variable. Supply and demand, product substitution, technology, prices, costs, expertise, skilled labour, social acceptability, and regulatory requirements largely determine what gets mined, when and where. Changes in these can shift a specific mineral deposit across the threshold from uneconomic to economic and vice versa. Management needs to be adaptive and flexible to realize economic benefits during the all too brief times that windows of opportunity are open.

The Ministry of Energy and Mines (MEM) is the government agency responsible for the management of the Province's mineral, placer, coal, petroleum, natural gas and geothermal resources. Mineral exploration and development ("mining") are appropriate activities in 100% of the SC Plan area outside of parks. For greater certainty this includes, for example, old growth management areas, no-harvest areas, RMAs, stream and lakeshore management zones, forest ecosystem networks, wildlife habitat areas, wildlife corridors, environmentally sensitive areas, roadless areas, wilderness areas, community watersheds, forest recreation sites and areas, and any areas with identified visual quality objectives, biodiversity emphasis options, recreational opportunity designations and the like, except where prohibited by law.

The objectives and strategies outlined below are intended to ensure that mineral exploration and development activities are conducted in a manner that considers the overall objectives for the

SC Plan area. Note that, for greater certainty, "mining" includes exploration for and development of hardrock, placer, aggregate, coal, geothermal, and petroleum resources.

Mineral exploration and development ("mining") will proceed in the SC Plan area subject to the Mineral Tenure Act, the Mines Act, the Health, Safety and Reclamation Code for Mines in British Columbia, the Mining Rights Amendment Act and the Mineral Exploration Code as well as other applicable laws and regulations. Effective April 1998, mineral exploration and development will be regulated by the Mineral Exploration Code (MX Code). MX Code standards will apply to all exploration activities. Access to mineral tenure will be subject to the Mining Rights Amendment Act (proclaimed January 1999).

Specific operational guidelines, namely, the objectives and strategies listed in the whole of this plan will be considered through standard permit review and approval processes such as interagency referral, regional mine development review committee, or Environmental Assessment Office. In case of a conflict between anything set out in this plan and the provisions of statutes and regulations, such as those mentioned above, the statute or regulation will govern. Nothing in this plan should be construed to fetter the discretion of a statutory decision maker.

Discovery of significant mineral resources may require changes to current patterns of resource management and use (e.g., access patterns). New patterns may require adaptations to resource use for periods of time measured in decades. Adaptive, integrated resource management implies recognition of such changes and utilizes a variety of means to offset impacts for the duration of mineral resource activities. Referrals and review processes ensure that impacts are co-operatively managed and mitigated so that other resource values are not unduly compromised or degraded. MEM will continue to refer exploration and development proposals involving surface disturbance to MELP and MOF, First Nations and local governments as appropriate.

Issues and Goals:

The purpose of these objectives is to foster and support an economically healthy, sustainable, and environmentally responsible mineral industry in the plan area.

Mineral exploration and mine development ("mining") are allowable land uses, encouraged and permitted in all parts of the planning area where tenure may be acquired. Mining will be managed in a way that considers strategic environmental, social or economic values identified and defined in this plan. Mining will be subject to laws and regulations of general application, including, where appropriate, review and approval processes (e.g., inter-agency referral, regional mine development review committee, or Environmental Assessment Office) for activities that involve mechanical disturbance of the surface. The Ministry of Energy and Mines principally regulates mining activities.