INNOVATION September-October 2014

skills and sound judgment that support resource devel- opment in BC. Wherever the facts related the Mount Polley Mine dam breach may lead, APEGBC members are reminded that acting responsibly and with respect for the enormous trust that the public places in them is something that engineers and geoscientists must keep firmly in mind.

scale post-event environmental assessments and remedia- tion so that the association would be ready to support the provincial government’s mitigation and clean-up efforts where necessary. At the same time, APEGBC worked to connect its engineering and geoscience subject matter experts with journalists to bring a balanced engineering and geoscience perspective to the public conversation that was developing in the media. Prior to the Ministry of Energy and Mine’s August 18 announcement of the independent geotechnical inquiry into the tailings pond breach, APEGBC consulted with the ministry regarding the selection of the panel members. The association has also provided the ministry with a list of APEGBC professionals with the geotechnical exper- tise to conduct the reviews of the dam safety inspections ordered by the ministry at that time. As of the time of the publication of this article, APEGBC has engaged with a number of ongoing in- vestigations into the Mount Polley Mine incident and is working to ascertain the facts around professional involvement and conduct. If there is a clear indication that engineering or geoscience practices may have failed to meet the appropriate standards, APEGBC will pursue a more detailed investigation. Given the intense public interest and scrutiny around Mount Polley, it is important to note that,ex- cept where permitted by the Engineers and Geoscientists Act or privacy legislation, information about complaints and investigations handled by APEGBC is confiden- tial until a member or licensee has been served with

Fact Sheet • There are 98 tailings ponds at permitted mines in British Columbia, of which 31 are active mining operations. • The Ministry of Energy and Mines is responsible for approving mineral exploration and mine project proposals in BC. Mine operators are responsible for ensuring that applications meet the requirements of the Mines Act , the Health, Safety and Reclamation Code for Mines in British Columbia, and other relevant legislation. • Mining companies are required to conduct annual Dam Safety Inspections and submit them to the Chief Mines Inspector. Additionally, mines are required to conduct more comprehensive dam safety reviews on a periodic basis according to their dam consequence classification. • APEGBC published the Professional Practice Guidelines – Legislated Dam Safety Reviews in BC , in July 2013, with an update in March 2014 to address mining dams. • Dam safety reviews should be carried out by a Qualified Professional as defined in the Professional Practice Guidelines – Legislated Dam Safety Reviews in BC. • There are 528 APEGBC-registered professionals with declared geotechnical expertise and 150 with declared expertise in mine tailings.

a Notice of Inquiry. While this is a statutory obligation, it is also part of APEGBC’s commitment to fairness and due process. Moving Forward BC professional engineers and geosci- entists are well equipped by training and experience to carry out resource development projects safely and, by professional obligation, to do so law- fully and ethically. APEGBC is com- mitted to upholding high standards of professional practice for its members as they undertake this work. In align- ment with the association’s strategic plan for 2014-2017, APEGBC will continue to support the professional practice of members by develop- ing and promoting the awareness of guidelines that define clear standards of practice and create shared expecta- tions for professionals, their clients, and regulatory authorities. APEGBC professionals play a piv- otal role in the economic success of the province, providing the technical

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