Jade mining closure northwest B.C.
Last updated on August 15, 2024Environmental Land Use Act (ELUA) order for jade mining closure in northwest B.C.
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Resources
- Order in Council No. 242 - Jade mining closure area (PDF, 3.8MB)
- Proponent Guidance - Jade Transition Period (PDF, 272.7KB)
- Item inventory tracking table (XLSX,229.7KB)
- Disturbance tracking table (XLSX, 81.7KB)
- Turnagain Legacy Assessment Reclamation Field Summary and Recommendations, Stantec (PDF, 36.2KB)
- Information bulletin: Transitioning period set for jade mining in northwestern B.C.
- Mine permitting
Overview of the jade mining closure area
On May 10, 2024, the Province established an Environment and Land Use Act (ELUA) order. This order prohibits jade mining activities on new tenures in northwest B.C.
Jade mining can continue on existing tenures until April 1, 2030. The order lists these tenures in Schedule 2 (PDF, 3.8MB).
The order does not:
-
Impact other mining operators in the northwest region
- Affect jade mining in other areas of B.C.
The ministry has been working with local First Nations and industry to address environmental concerns from jade mining in the Turnagain region of northwest B.C.
The order protects these areas from further harm and disturbance.
Jade mining closure area
Boundary showing jade mining closure area in northwest B.C.
Proponent guidance
Guidance document
This proponent guidance (PDF, 272.7KB) supports jade operators through the five year jade transition period. The document outlines:
- Notice of Work application requirements
- Permit conditions for consideration by the Statutory Decision Maker
Tracking tables
Item inventory tracking table
Submit the inventory tracking table (XLSX,229.7KB) to the northwest regional office as part of the baseline report/annual report.
The spreadsheet (XLSX,229.7KB) requires:
- Itemization of existing physical items/ liabilities that are onsite
- A schedule for their removal
Disturbance tracking table
Submit the disturbance tracking table (XLSX, 82KB) to the northwest regional office as part of the baseline report/annual report.
The spreadsheet (XLSX, 82KB) will track the amount of disturbance and reclamation work done that year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Jade transition period: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) (PDF, 149.3KB)
Does a free miner have the right to explore for jade?
Order in Council 242/2024 allows specific tenures to carry out jade mining activities in the closure area.
Does a free miner have the right to explore for minerals or placer minerals other than jade?
Yes. A free miner has the right to explore for minerals or placer minerals other than jade. Order in Council 242-2024 (PDF, 3.8MB) only impacts jade mining activities in the order boundary.
What happens if jade is found as a by-product of mining?
The free miner is not permitted to remove the jade from the claim or sell the jade without a permit for jade.
What are the enhanced reclamation requirements?
Order in Council 242-2024 (PDF, 3.8MB) states the permit include at least the following.
A condition:
- Respecting progressive reclamation
- Imposing a limit on new disturbance to land, expressed as a number of square metres
- Respecting reporting on disturbance to land in the closure are and reporting on reclamation
- Requiring a qualified professional prepare the Reclamation and Closure Plan
The Ministry has developed Proponent Guidance: Jade Transition Period (PDF, 272.7KB). This guidance outlines the Notice of Work Application requirements and permit condition considerations.
Can I expand my claim?
No. Order in Council 242-2024 (PDF, 3.8MB) prohibits jade mining activities “outside the area of a listed mineral tenure.”
What will happen to my claim at the end of the closure date?
After April 1, 2030, the closure prohibits jade mining except for reclamation activities. Operators can mine for other placer or hard-rock minerals after the closure date.