British Columbia 'Not Effectively Managing’ Hazardous Spills, Auditor General Says
Authors:
Amanda Follett Hosgood and Andrew MacLeod
Date:
28 February 2024
Category:
Chemicals & Waste
Keyword:
Hazardous Waste
Region:
Americas
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B.C. is not adequately prepared to deal with a serious hazardous spill, according to an audit of the province’s Environmental Emergency Program released Tuesday. The report, “Managing Hazardous Spills in B.C.,” found that spill response plans were outdated, the ministry had no policies or procedures for identifying non-compliance and First Nations governments were not consistently notified about spills affecting them.
“Overall, we concluded that the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy had not effectively managed hazardous spills,” B.C. auditor general Michael Pickup said, following the report’s release. “The program is designed for there to be consequences when those responsible for spills don’t comply with the law.”