Notice of Work application mapping requirements

Last updated on May 9, 2024

Requirements with every Notice of Work (NoW) application include maps and spatial files. Outlined below are the requirements, template files and written and video help guides.

Notice of Work (NoW) is an application made to the province to apply for a permit under section 10 of the Mines Act, to explore for mineral and coal and develop placer, quarry and aggregate resources. 

Mineral and Coal Exploration Notice of Work Application Companion Guide (PDF, 14.2MB) provides details on how to prepare for, complete, and submit high-quality Notice of Work (NOW) applications. Mapping and geospatial requirements can be applied to placer, quarry, and sand and gravel NoW submissions.

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Legislation

  • Section 10(1) of the Mines Act states " ...as part of the application for the permit, there must be filed with an inspector a plan outlining the details of the proposed work...including the information, particulars and maps established by the regulations or the code."
  • Health, Safety and Reclamation Code for Mines in British Columbia. 
    • ​Part 9.1.1 and 9.2.1(1) for mineral and coal exploration
    • Part 10.1.1(1) for placer mining, sand and gravel pits, rock quarries and industrial mineral quarries

Map submission requirements

Mapping help guides

 

Map template elements

  • Computer generated using GIS specific software
    • iMapBC reference guide  (PDF, 4.7MB) uses a publicly available webmapping application
      • iMapBC template project file - Section 2.2 in the reference guide
      • iMapBC print template - Section 3.5 in the reference guide
  • Digital file size and resolution
    • Size under 100MB
    • Resolution 300DPI or lower
    • PDF type preferred 
  • Page size
    • Full-page maps
    • 8.5x11 inches, preferred
  • Clear and legible
    • Labels, geospatial features, shading and colour coding must maintain legibility if printed in black and white
  • Coordinate system and map graticule/grid
    • NAD 1983 BC Environment Albers, preferred
    • UTM
  • Metric units
    • E.g. elevation contours in metres
    • Disturbance areas in hectares
  • North arrow, true north pointing to top of page
  • Map scale to show required map features
    • Consider using overview maps
  • Metric units
    • E.g elevation contours in metres
    • Disturbance areas in hectares
  • North arrow, true north pointing to top of page
  • Scale bar and ratio
    • Use whole numbers such as 1:2000 or 1:5000, not 1:1567
  • Map title and metadata
    • Title or Permit Map
    • Figure number
    • Company/affiliation
    • Permit number
    • Mine number
    • Base mapping source, download date
    • Map creation date
    • Geospatial data sources
    • Coordinate system and projection
  • Map legend
    • Utilize legend over labels
 

Map content elements

  • Base mapping
    • Hill shade
    • Orthophoto/imagery
    • TRIM
    • Road map
  • Imagery capture date
  • Landmark labels
    • Significant landmarks such as towns, cities, roads, rivers or lakes
    • Label all landmarks referenced in an application
  • Additional labels
    • Label and features reference in an application
  • Mapping symbology
    • Use consistent symbology across map submissions
  • Consistent mapping information and content
    • Use consistent mapping features across all map submissions

 

Example of the Location Map submitted with the NoW application. Illustration showing where the map template elements and map content elements are displayed on a map.

 

Maps required

Map requirements to accompany a NoW submission to explore for mineral and coal and develop placer, quarry and aggregate resources
Map Application required on

Location map

All applications

Title (tenure) map

  • mineral/coal exploration
  • industrial mineral quarry
  • placer

Land Title (or Licence of Occupation) map

Sand and gravel applications

Proposed and/or Permitted Mine Area map

  • mineral/coal exploration
  • placer
  • sand and gravel
  • industrial mineral quarry
  • bulk sample
Additional Maps:  

Overview map(s)

If necessary

Items required on each of these maps:

 

Location map

  • Appropriate base mapping for understanding where the general location of the mine is in relation to communities/highways/landmarks
  • A labeled point location of the mine with its coordinates (same as the Geographic Coordinates of Mines Latitude and Longitude in the application form)
  • A labelled polygon representing the proposed and/or existing permitted mine area
  • A labelled access route highlighting the exact directions to the site
  • The nearest service community labelled with name

See section 3 of the iMapBC reference guide  (PDF, 4.7MB)

Example Location map for Notice of Work application

 

Title (Tenure) map

  • Mineral, placer, or coal title(s), including crown grant(s), and indicate ownership
  • Proposed and/or existing permitted mine area

See section 4 of the iMapBC reference guide  (PDF, 4.7MB)

Example Title map to go with Notice of Work application

 

Land Title (or Licence of Occupation) map 

  • Land title(s) and/or licence(s) of occupation in and surrounding the site, and indicate ownership
  • Proposed and/or existing permitted mine area

See section 5 of the iMapBC reference guide  (PDF, 4.7MB)

Sample Land Title Licence of Occupation map for Notice of Work application

 

Proposed and/or Permitted Mine Area map 

 Mineral/coal exploration, and placer applications:

  • Proposed and/or existing permitted mine area
    • same as proposed and/or existing MYAB area(s)
  • Site specific proposed disturbance and reclamation activities
    • separate map needed for MYAB Year 1 program
  • Existing disturbance and reclamation activities
  • Elevation contours in metres

See section 6 of the iMapBC reference guide  (PDF, 4.7MB)

Sample Permitted Mine Area map for Notice of Work applicaiton

MYAB YeaSample Permitted Mine Area map for Notice of Work application.r 1 program

 

Sand and gravel, industrial mineral quarry, and bulk sample applications:

  • Proposed and/or existing permitted mine area             
  • Site specific proposed disturbance and reclamation activities, including phased mining activities and progressive reclamation
  • Existing disturbance and reclamation activities
  • Elevation contours in metres 
  • Excavation setbacks as per HSRC 10.5.8 or 10.5.11 (PDF, 2.4MB)
  • Cross and long section traces

 

 

Overview map

  • Appropriate base mapping for understanding where the general location of the mine is in relation to communities/highways/landmarks
  • Location and extent of the larger scale maps included in the application

See section 7 of the iMapBC reference guide  (PDF, 4.7MB)

 

Geospatial data submission requirements

Geospatial data file elements

All notice of work geospatial data submissions must:

Geospatial features to submit with your notice of work application:

Required

  • Permitted Mine Area (PMA)
    • The permitted mine area is the footprint/boundary of the entire work program. This boundary must contain all mine infrastructure and disturbance areas.
    • Must be submitted as one polygon feature (multipart or singlepart)

Optional (future requirement)

  • Disturbance areas
    • All mining activities proposed/existing including access roads and trails (existing, modified, and new), trenches and stockpiles, drill pads/laydowns, and heli pads etc.
  • Reclamation areas
    • All reclamation activities such as revegetation to reclaim areas affected by mining

Geospatial file types

Acceptable geospatial filetypes to accompany your NoW submission:  (see file naming standards)

  • Shapefiles: must include the following (4) files
    1. [your_filename].shp
    2. [your_filename].shx
    3. [your_filename].dbf
    4. [your_filename].prj
  • Google Earth: [your_filename].kml or [your_filename].kmz
  • Geomark: URL

File naming standards

The following naming standard is preferred to allow for consistency and increase efficiencies in the permitting process.

MineName_MineNumber/PermitNumber_Year_Existing/Proposed_Featuretype_Date(YYYYMonDD).File_extension

Permitted mine area file naming example using a shapefile:

ABCMine_1234567_2022_Proposed_PermittedMineArea_2021Oct31.shp

Example of a file name for a shapefile submitted for a proposed permitted mine area.

 

Disturbance type file naming example using a shapefile:

ABCMine_1234567_2022_Proposed_ExplorationTrails_2021Oct31.shp

Example of a file name for a shapefile submitted for a proposed disturbance area.