Environment ministry faces 'substantial pressure' from power producers, documents say

Some independent power projects are ignoring environmental regulations aimed at protecting old-growth forests, wildlife and streamside habitat, leaked B.C. government documents suggest.

Ministry of Environment officials sometimes face "substantial pressure" from IPP proponents to exempt them from wildlife and habitat protection regulations that apply to the forestry sector -- and ministry staff are recommending that requests for exemptions be passed along to politicians rather than dealt with by civil servants, according to a document obtained by the Western Canada Wilderness Committee.

The committee charged that the government has "lowered environmental standards" to accommodate the industry.

Independent Power Producers association of B.C. president Steve Davis said the document was written by a civil servant "who is just trying to clarify who issues what, to who, and when."

"It mentions five acts, two ministries, a half a dozen different reviews and several statutory decision-makers. It shows how long and complex the permitting process is for IPPs."

Another ministry document, obtained by the B.C. New Democratic Party, notes there are "no regulatory requirements" to prevent power project developers from clearing trees in old-growth forests, nor are they constrained from clearing land all the way down to the edge of a stream -- even though foresters are constrained from removing streamside brush and trees.

Environment Minister Barry Penner countered by producing a recent forest ministry bulletin that he said confirms the government's intention to regulate IPPs in accordance with strict environmental standards.

Penner said the intent of the leaked documents was to develop more clarity about the way in which IPP developments are regulated -- and are enabling the ministry to tighten up regulation of IPPs.

"The exemptions that IPPs are given I found astounding," Wilderness Committee policy director Gwen Barlee said.

"There are exemptions from roadbuilding standards, wildlife areas, ungulate winter areas, and the list goes on and on.

"The thing that really stands out from me is the exemptions that are already granted from low environmental standards. That's why they could cut right down to stream banks."

NDP environment critic Shane Simpson said the documents suggest ministry staff "are saying that [IPPs] are able to go out and clearcut old-growth areas. They are able to conduct themselves in ways, because of loopholes, that most people working in the bush wouldn't be able to do. Whether you think the notion [of IPPs] is good or bad, the staff raise big concerns."

Green party spokesman Philip Stone said a document "instructing Ministry of Environment staff not to impede industrial projects should hardly come as a surprise when we're talking, in the case of the IPP projects for example, about the governing Liberals receiving over $800,000 in donations from the project proponents. This is a perfect example of why we need campaign finance reform."

ssimpson@vancouversun.com

Read Scott Simpson's Blog www.vancouversun.com/energy


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