Morice Land and Resource Management Plan
Download 1.06 Mb.
|
- Navigate this page:
- Recommendations to the LRMP Table
- Minerals, Oil, Gas and Energy
- Sector Development Strategy
- A Two-Zone System for Mineral Exploration and Mining in BC
ConclusionEngineered wood products are a very active sector of the Canadian wood products industry and will continue to expand at a brisk pace. Economic success requires continuous adaptation to market requirements through innovative design and aggressive marketing, as well as technological innovation to reduce production costs while expanding raw material options and product specifications. This will require dynamic market intelligence as well as technology for improved process and quality control. The potential development of EWPs in the Northwest will be hampered by difficulties in accessing raw materials, skill shortages (technical, economic, marketing) and an overall poor investment climate. Engineered wood products are the future of wood building materials because they offer the best hope for incorporating technological change to ensure that forest products are cost competitive on an installed cost basis with all alternative building materials. The development of capacity in the Northwest will take a significant effort on behalf of government, labour and business.
Recommendations to the LRMP TableThe requirements necessary to operate an EWP operation are similar to those of the Medium Density Fibre Board Operation. Notwithstanding the market limitations the LRMP can better the likelihood of EWP operations by considering the following recommendations: Recommendation – A secure primary wood supply is required to provide the necessary by products needed to operate an EWP operation. Securing this wood supply will include the maintenance of proper access to the supply. Recommendation – Species and stands such as aspen and low site pine that are currently not utilized could provide some of the fibre requirements for EWP. The LRMP Table could recommend to government that incentives be explored to for forest companies utilize this fibre. Zonation could consider that this type of fibre may provide an economic benefit in the future and could be included in the timber harvesting landbase. Recommendation – The LRMP Table could recommend to the provincial government that a streamlined environmental regulatory system be put in place to govern such facilities. Recommendation - The LRMP Table could recommend to government that incentives be explored for forest companies to convert wood waste into secondary products, thus aiding the move to reduce tier 1 burners. Recommendation - Post secondary educational facilities should be available to local residents interested in working in the field of secondary manufacturing. Minerals, Oil, Gas and EnergyIntroductionMineral exploration and development of the Morice LRMP area has continued for over a century. A wide range of metallic minerals: gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc and molybdenum, has been produced at five mine sites over this time. There are 17 major deposits containing high levels of mineral reserves. The success of mining exploration is partly a function of ease of access to unprotected land within the Morice LRMP and certainty that economically viable deposits can be exploited. Due to growing energy demands oil and gas exploration and development has become more profitable. Confined primarily to the Peace Region of B.C. interest in oil and gas in other parts of the province has increased. With the recent finding that the Bowser Basin resources may be richer in content and larger in size than once thought the Morice LRMP could stand to benefit from such developments. For a detailed assessment of the current state of this sector refer to the Morice Land and Resource Management Plan: Socio-Economic Base Case Sector Development StrategyThe Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management has developed a Mineral, Oil and Gas Sector Strategy for Crown Land Access. This strategy complements the Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management (MSRM) and Division service plans, the Strategic Direction for Economic Development, the First Nations Strategy and the Agriculture Sector Strategy. A few key action items listed in the strategy’s 2003/04 – 2004/05 workplan include:
For more information on the Province’s Minerals, Oil and Gas Strategy interested individuals can access a copy of the report online at http://srmwww.gov.bc.ca/rmd/ecdev/mog/index.htm . Based on information gathered from the SWOT analysis an economic development strategy was developed for the Minerals, Oil, Gas and Energy Sector specifically for the Morice. The strategy is to develop productive and profitable, world-class mine sites in the Morice that respect social and environmental needs. Ensuring land-use certainty and collaboration with other land and resource users is a key consideration. The strategy is also intended to assist the Province of British Columbia in its effort to open up rich oil and gas reserves for meeting North American energy demands. Undertaking the following actions will assist in realizing this strategy.
While there are many more factors that control the development of specific mineral or oil deposits, such as global market demand, these actions if taken will positively benefit the industry and will position the Morice area in a much better state to develop a world class mineral oil and gas and energy sector A Two-Zone System for Mineral Exploration and Mining in BCInformation on the Two-Zone System is presented in this report to provide context to the extent at which land and resource planning is involved in the mineral, oil and gas sector. The following excerpt is taken form the Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management website at http://srmwww.gov.bc.ca/rmd/ecdev/mog/twozone/index.htm . Individuals interested in finding out more on the Two-Zone System can get this information for the aforementioned website. “The Province recognizes that stimulating investment in mineral exploration and mining is fundamental to a strong, competitive and vibrant provincial economy. A key factor in attracting investment is certainty regarding access to land for development of provincial mineral resources. To enhance this certainty and to assist in changing negative perceptions about mineral investment in BC, a "two-zone system" for mineral exploration and mining has been clearly established for the province. This two-zone system identifies lands that are closed to mineral development and those that are open to mineral exploration and mining, subject to applicable legislation. The two-zone system recognizes the challenges faced in exploring for a hidden resource. While the two-zone approach is not a new concept, it has now been confirmed in legislation through an amendment to the Mineral Tenure Act. As it is expected that a wide range of audiences will be interested in understanding the implications of the two-zone system, particularly as applied to land use planning or to permitting for mineral activities, an information brochure has been created jointly by the Ministry of Energy and Mines and the Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management” (MSRM 2003) It should be noted that while the following technical analyses do not specifically refer to the Two-Zone System, any and all opportunities being considered are governed by this system. All LRMP Table Sector Representatives are to be aware of this fact when involved in decision making deliberations. Download 1.06 Mb. Share with your friends:
|