BCEIA Executive Director Moves On

January 25, 2010 – BCEIA members will be interested to know that the Association’s Executive Director, Jeff Eltom, has decided to take an extended vacation in southern climes and has resigned from his position with the Association. We will miss him greatly, as Jeff brought a great deal of energy and enthusiasm to the position. A search is on now for a replacement. Interested candidates may contact the Association’s President.

Seminal Environmental Assessment Decision by Supreme Court of Canada

January 21, 2010 – Today, the Supreme Court of Canada released its much anticipated environmental law decision in MiningWatch Canada v. Canada (Fisheries and Oceans), 2010 SCC 2. The court unanimously held that, under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, S.C. 1992, c. 37 ("CEAA"), the level of scrutiny to be imposed by a federal environmental assessment is determined by the project "as proposed" by a proponent, rather than by a discretionary scoping decision of the federal authority charged with carrying out the assessment.
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B.C. government approves controversial Prosperity mine project

VANCOUVER – Taseko Mines Ltd's ambitious $800–million Prosperity gold–copper project cleared a major hurdle Thursday with the awarding of a provincial environmental assessment certificate. Taseko's certificate is contingent on fulfilling 103 commitments – including the creation of a new lake as a replacement for the destruction of Fish Lake and Little Fish Lake for the sake of the 20–year open pit mine near Williams Lake.
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Toyota Earth Day Scholarship Program

Toyota Canada Inc. and Earth Day Canada established the Toyota Earth Day Scholarship Program to help cultivate and nurture this environmental leadership. The Toyota Earth Day Scholarship Program encourages and rewards graduating Canadian high school students who have distinguished themselves through environmental community service, extracurricular and volunteer activities, and academic excellence. The Toyota Earth Day Scholarship Program grants 20 awards of $5000 each annually, to be applied directly towards tuition, books, room and board (where applicable) or other educational expenses for the first year of post-secondary full–time studies in Canada.
Click Here to View Eligibility Requirements and Selection Criteria

Joint Review Panel Established for the Northern Gateway Pipeline Project

OTTAWA, Jan. 20, 2010 – Environment Minister Jim Prentice and Mr. Gaétan Caron, Chair and CEO of the National Energy Board have announced the establishment of a three–member joint review panel for the environmental and regulatory review of the proposed Northern Gateway Pipeline Project and appointed Ms. Sheila A. Leggett as the Panel chair, and Mr. Hans Matthews and Mr. Kenneth M. Bateman as Panel members..Public and Aboriginal groups are encouraged to bring their views on the Northern Gateway Pipeline Project forward to the Joint Review Panel the Panel). For more information: www.ceaa-acee.gc.ca, under reference number 06-05-21799, and on the National Energy Board's website at www.neb-one.gc.ca.

2010 Olympic Security – Meeting the Threat

VANCOUVER, Jan. 20 /CNW/ – Terrorism, targeted violence, threats, sabotage, organized acts of civil disobedience and disruption, internal theft, insecurity. What is likely to happen when the world comes to the 2010 Winter Games, and what has been done to mitigate risks?
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Solar aquatic system wanted for sewage

The Halalt First Nation knows the devastating effects of sewage on shellfish, so the Chemainus band is looking for a greener solution than conventional treatment for its own waste. Old septic tanks are failing on the 45–house reserve and a replacement system is urgently needed to stop seepage. Instead of a conventional sewage line, the band wants to install a solar aquatic system, which would use nature to purify the waste.
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Former West Van owners held liable for house property contamination

Couple ordered to pay remediation costs. A couple has been ordered to pay remediation costs arising from soil contamination near a buried oil tank on a West Vancouver property they sold to a mother of two. Alexander and Lynda Colbeck claimed in court that they had no knowledge that the site on Mathers Avenue was contaminated when they sold the home to Susan Aldred in January 200.
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GLOBE 2010 Conference Program
Whether it s dealing with climate change or positioning your business to gain competitive advantage from environmental initiatives, the GLOBE 2010 Conference is where you can find the solutions, gain the insights, and discover leading-edge ideas that will drive sustainable success for your company.
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ENVIRONMENT SECTOR: NAVIGATING U.S. GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS FOCUS ON THE MIDWEST AND NORTHWESTERN STATES

February 4, 2009 – Vancouver, BC Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada invites you to a half-day morning seminar on U.S. Government contracts and opportunities focused on the environment sector. Particular focus will be on the waste and wastewater and alternative energy sectors, and speakers will discuss the current states of environmental initiatives in Midwest and Northwestern U.S. States. Afternoon one–on–one meetings are available with each speaker upon request. Registration and coffee: 8:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. Seminar: 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. One-on-One Meetings: 12:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. LOCATION: Sutton Place Hotel, Versailles (Salon) B, 845 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC COST: FREE (Space is limited). To register for the seminar and / or a one-on-one meeting with any of the speakers, please register by Monday, February 1 by contacting: Rosina Neves 604.666.0434 or rosina.neves@international.gc.ca

Solar, Wind, Earth & Energy Trade Fair 2010 (SWEET)

Gwangju Metropolitan City, Korea. Incentives: provided by Korean Gov’t Exhibitors – 20% discount on booth, 3 night hotel accommodation, Interpreter. Buyers – 2 night hotel accommodation, Interpreter Deadline for application: Feb. 4th. For more information and registration, please contact Juyun Lee at juyun@kotrayvr.com or at 604–683–1820 x205. Detailed information is available at www.sweet.or.kr

The Sediment Solutions Seminar – Vancouver 2010

GeoEnviroLogic Professional Development is proud to announce the Sediment Solutions Seminar – Vancouver 2010, a one-day event disseminating the latest in integrated approaches for cost effective sediment assessment, management and closure. Our panel of international experts will show you how to chart the right course, and navigate treacherous waters with a steady hand on the helm. Golder is co–sponsoring, along with GeoEnviroLogic

Mark your calendar today for March 23, 2010

Please note that the seminar date has been linked to Globe 2010 Environmental Convention running from March 24 to 26. See http://www.globe2010.com/ for more details.
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Climate Change: Using The New Local Government Powers

March 5, 9 am–4:30 pm Ambrosia Conference & Event Centre, 638 Fisgard Street, Victoria. This course will examine new local government powers to deal with climate change (Bills 10 and 27 of 2008), and equip planning practitioners to put them to use in their communities. Principal focus will be on development permit area designations for water and energy conservation and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Instructors will cover development permit area designations and justifications, and the preparation and application of development permit guidelines addressing these new planning objectives. Co–sponsored by the Planning Institute of British Columbia South Island Chapter $295 (GST included)
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Site Remediation FAQ’s

John Ward, Manager, Operations Management, Land Remediation Section, Ministry of Environment advises that the Ministry has recently released responses to over 20 new technical FAQs on this website. They have been added under the following headings: Contaminated sites legal instruments; Discharge authorizations; Standards. If you have any questions or comments please send them to: remediationFAQs@gov.bc.ca

Workshops on Contaminated Sites

February 1, 2 and 3, 2010 in Pre–Olympic Vancouver-Registration is now open at www.geoenvirologic.ca for the 7th ANNUAL February Workshop Series on contaminated sites issues for practitioners, site owners/managers, regulators, planners and others. This year we offer two workshops. Day 1 provides you with the fundamentals of contaminated sites science, engineering and regulation. The second workshop, on Days 2 and 3, takes investigation and interpretation of site contamination to a new level, giving you an in-depth understanding of what really matters – the use of a Conceptual Site Model to comprehend key problems, identify feasible solutions and resolve the real issues. Full details and registration are at www.geoenvirologic.ca.

Cost Engineering Vancouver, BC Mar 11 – 12, 2010

This EPIC seminar examines the key concepts of cost engineering including estimating, risk analysis, cost control, scheduling and change management to achieve best value for investments and expenditures. It provides methodologies, procedures and tools (e.g. tables, forms) to do the work, along with hands–on experience on their use. Participants will be in a position to use these tools and procedures starting immediately to meet success criteria of current activities.
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