B.C. Contaminated Sites Regulation overhauls fee structure for ministry reviews and services

Plain-language summary · AI-assisted · not legal advice

The Contaminated Sites Regulation has been significantly amended to replace the old fee provisions with a detailed new fee schedule (Schedule 3) covering three categories of charges. Flat fees now apply to common ministry actions such as site disclosure statements ($150), contaminated site determinations ($5,000), site investigation report reviews (ranging from $10,000 to $30,000), and certificates of compliance ($10,000). A tiered flat-fee structure applies to compliance verification activities and additional ministry services based on estimated hours (from $1,000 for up to 4 hours up to $20,000 for under 75 hours), while an hourly rate of $300 applies to larger engagements of 75 or more hours in a fiscal year and to amendment requests. The amendment also redefines 'external contract reviewer' so the term lives in section 10 rather than the general definitions, and introduces rules for partial refunds when requests are withdrawn and for reduced fees (50%) on resubmissions after an incomplete or erroneous report is returned. Anyone involved in contaminated site investigations, remediation, or related ministry approvals in B.C. should review the new Schedule 3 to understand what fees will apply to their specific activities.

Who this affects: contaminated site owners and operators · environmental consultants and approved professionals · mine site operators seeking indemnification · municipal approving officers · parties to voluntary remediation agreements