Environment and Resource Services - Policies
Land Access and Development
The Environment and Resources Services branch provides proactive resource planning support to minimize conflicts related to mineral rights access. It also provides reactive advocacy and issue resolution support to the mineral rights management process to maintain opportunities for industry to define the extent of mineral resources through orderly exploration of unexplored areas and to develop and produce those resources where reserves or resources are proven to exist.
Various government departments and agencies identify certain lands that are subject to some form of surface restriction for various reasons (e.g., ecological reserves, grazing reserves, provincial parks, historic sites, wildlife sanctuaries). Some surface access restrictions preclude any form of mineral exploration and development, while others permit limited access. The areal extent of these restrictions must be accurately identified and mapped. Appropriate addenda describing the access restrictions must be attached to each mineral rights offering to ensure industry bidders are fully aware of potential access constraints prior to preparing a bid to acquire the mineral rights. The branch manages the process for access restrictions requests, provides advocacy and access planning which permit the orderly and efficient development of the Crown's mineral resources. The group seeks practical and economic alternatives to surface restrictions that might preclude or significantly hamper exploration and development.
The group participates in the Integrated Resource Management program to ensure that guidelines for land use adequately reflect the need for access for mineral exploration and development or considers the value of foregone mineral development opportunities should access be curtailed. This group reviews of all administrative transfers of land from Sustainable Resource Development to other provincial or federal government departments or agencies to ensure that provincial mineral resources are not precluded from disposition without consideration of their development potential and value.
At times, an advocacy position will be taken on behalf of freehold mineral owners to avoid government liability for expropriation of mineral rights.
