A2 www.clearwatertimes.com
Thursday, March 26, 2015 Clearwater Times
Having fun in the sun Members of the Harrison family enjoy the sunshine at Dutch Lake beach on Sunday, March 22. Pictured are (l-r) Janel, Grant and baby Jase Harrison. The beach area and parking should be expanded to accommodate more people in summer, they say. Photo by Keith McNeilll
THOMPSON-NICOLA REGIONAL DISTRICT NEW Bylaw Notice & Dispute Adjudication What is the TNRD Bylaw Notice Dispute Adjudication System about?
Mail #300-465 Victoria St Kamloops, BC V2C 2A9
The new Notice Enforcement Bylaw sets out the penalties and the period for paying or disputing Bylaw Notices received for violating the provisions of the campground, building regulations, unsightly premises, dangerous dogs, zoning, solid waste, noise control and water system regulations bylaws. The bylaw also allows for a dispute adjudication system to resolve disputes in relation to issued Bylaw Notices.
When does it come in to effect? Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2500 comes into effect April 1, 2015.
Why is the new program being introduced?
Phone (250) 377-8673 1-877-377-8673
Email bylawenforce@tnrd.ca
The system is intended to resolve bylaw violations and notice disputes in a simple, cost-effective manner. The new Bylaw Notice Dispute Adjudication System will improve efficiencies in the area of paying and collecting fines as well as delivering a streamlined process to the public.
How will it affect me? If you receive a Bylaw Notice for violating one of the TNRD bylaws listed above, you will have 30 days to either pay the fine or dispute the Notice through the Dispute Adjudication System without having to go through the Provincial court system (which can take up to 6 months). An independent adjudicator will hear the dispute instead, possibly resolving the dispute in one month.
What are the benefits? The new system will provide the following benefits: ƒ ƒ
Website www.tnrd.ca
ƒ
ƒ ƒ
Simplifies and expedites the dispute processes by removing minor bylaw violations from the Provincial court system; Reduces costs associated with using the court system (lawyers and the time spent by enforcement officers waiting to testify); Includes dedicated staff members (the Screening Officers) to act as a resource to help residents dealing with bylaw tickets and the dispute process. Allows residents to dispute tickets in-person, in writing or over the phone; Provides additional flexibility to encourage bylaw compliance as opposed to a strict enforcement focused system.
How do I get more information? For more information, please contact bylawenforce@tnrd.ca or visit the TNRD website at www.tnrd.ca.
Fishing club has questions about proposed mine Times Staff The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency's and B.C.'s Environmental Assessment Office's public comment period for the proposed Harper Creek mine near Vavenby closed on March 21 and nearly all the comments appeared to be in favor of the project. The comment period opened Feb. 19. A final federal public comment period on the environmental assessment report will be advertised later. Most of the comments posted in the latest round focussed on the positive impacts the mine would have on the area's economy. One possible exception was a series of questions posed by the president of Kamloops Fly Fishers,
who was concerned about how the mine and its tailings might impact fish. The angler wanted to know how often and where will fish be caught to compare them with base studies for size, quantity and minerals in them. Insects also need to be monitored, the fly fishing spokesperson felt. Water levels in the creeks draining from the mine site should be kept as high as possible to avoid harming fish and their habitat. Relevant information such as weather data, dust, noise and other studies should be made public on a website. Annual public meetings also should be considered, the fishing club president felt.
Harper Creek project has good 2014, says report Times Staff Acceptance by the BC Environmental Assessment Office of the environmental assessment application for its proposed Harper Creek mine was one of the highlights of 2014, according to a yearend report by Yellowhead Mining Inc. The 180-day application review period commenced on Jan. 28, 2015. Other highlights of last year included completion of an updated feasibility study for the Harper Creek project, including updated resource and reserve estimates, initial capital costs, sustaining capital costs and operating costs, and demonstrating the economic viability of the project "2014 was a turning point for Harper Creek with the acceptance of the EA Application for Harper Creek for formal review,� said Frank D. Wheatley, CEO of Yellowhead. “We look forward to 2015 as the year Yellowhead receives an EA certificate for Harper Creek and begins the construction permitting phase of development."
"We are of the strong view that Harper Creek is both a permittable and a buildable project, and will provide economic development in the Thompson-Nicola region of British Columbia in an environmentally responsible fashion" added Wheatley. According to the year-end report, the company's strategy for 2015 includes: • Completing the review of the EA Application and receiving the EA Certificate • Commencing the construction permitting process for Harper Creek upon receipt of the EA Certificate • Continuing consultation with First Nations and all stakeholders, including the public and local communities, to address any potential environmental and socio-economic impacts of Harper Creek and the Company's mitigation strategies • Pursuing additional working capital to continue the ongoing development of Harper Creek Harper Creek is a proposed open pit copper-gold-silver mine that would be located about 10 km southwest of Vavenby.
5009-4
Ride together. Save together. Use transit and save.
District of Clearwater
Transit Info 250¡674¡3935 • www.bctransit.com