The B.C. government is proposing a second phase of measures to protect against potential spills. File photo.
In an effort to protect the environment, a second phase of regulations is being proposed by the provincial government to deal with potential oil spills.
Those include restrictions on the transport of diluted bitumen until the action of spilled bitumen is better understood and with assurance to mitigate spills.
The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy says the province will be looking for feedback in areas to improve preparedness, response and recovery from potential spills of petroleum.
The government will also get feedback for response times, geographic response plans, compensation for loss of public and cultural use of land and maximizing the application of regulations to marine spills.
The first phase of regulations, approved last October, applied to pipelines transporting any liquid petroleum, and rail and trucking operations hauling more than 10,000 litres of the product.
Recommendations on if and how heavy oils can be safely moved and cleaned up will be established by an independent scientific advisory panel.
Feedback on the recommendations will be gathered through meetings with First Nations, industry, local governments and environmental groups.
The public can provide input online once an intentions paper is released, which is expected before the end of February.
Andy Neal
