Provincial Ministries, Crowns & Agencies

Environmental Assessments

When a major project is proposed in British Columbia, it must undergo an environmental assessment.

Environmental Assessments in British Columbia

When a major project is proposed in British Columbia, it must undergo an environmental assessment. This process ensures that any potential environmental, economic, social, heritage and health effects that may occur during the lifetime of a major project are thoroughly assessed. Environmental Assessments are managed by the Environmental Assessment Office, a neutral regulatory agency within the provincial government that works with and seeks input from Scientific Professionals, Indigenous groups, proponents, the public, local governments, and federal and provincial agencies to ensure that no adverse effects are missed.

The Environmental Assessment Office follows a clearly defined process in the Environmental Assessment Act to conduct the assessment of a major project, and then produces a detailed Assessment Report. That report is then given to provincial Ministers to make a decision on if the project should proceed.

You can learn more about the Environmental Assessment Process, here.