DATE ISSUED: Aug. 13, 2024

EFFECTIVE DATE: Immediately

The Province of British Columbia and Halfway River First Nation (HRFN) have completed a landscape planning pilot (LPP), an operational plan intended to balance the exercise of Treaty rights and the healing of the environment, with responsible energy resource development. The HRFN LPP is brought into effect by an update to the Treaty 8 Planning and Mitigation Regulation. The BC Energy Regulator is releasing guidance for the energy industry following the Province’s announcement of the implementation of the HRFN LPP.

Key features of the HRFN LPP:

• Applies to two distinct areas:
  • The LPP Area 1, which overlaps the Blueberry River First Nation’s Gundy Complex HV1-C Plan Area (HV1-C Gundy Complex), and
  • The LPP Area 2, which surrounds the HRFN community.
• Operational direction is found within Appendix 1 of the HRFN LPP, the HRFN Adaptive Management Program and Plan, which includes the BCER’s Treaty 8 Planning and Mitigation Measures (version 1, released in January 2024).

The shapefiles for LPP Area 2 have been added to the Application Management System (AMS) Map Viewer and the AMS Application Analysis Report to support project planning and application development, and a map of the areas is included in the HRFN LPP.

The HRFN LPP has been brought into effect alongside the Gundy Complex HV1-C Plan for LPP Area 1. In LPP Area 1, where a requirement is more restrictive, permit holders will have to plan their development in accordance with the more restrictive requirement. In the LPP Area 2, the HRFN LPP will replace the rules associated with Article 14 of the Blueberry River First Nation Implementation Agreement. An accompanying Frequently Asked Questions has been posted on the BCER’s website.

If you have any questions regarding this Technical Update, please contact:

Michael Shepard
Vice President Operations: Responsible Development and Indigenous Relations
BC Energy Regulator
Michael.Shepard@bc-er.ca
250-661-4820