The Province has launched a new tool to engage the public during environmental assessments, with the aim of residents having a more meaningful impact on the decision-making process for major projects proposed throughout the province.
EPIC.engage is a new platform designed to improve the overall experience for people providing feedback during the public comment periods of an environmental assessment.
“Public engagement is a critical part of our environmental assessment process and of transparency. It provides valuable information about proposed major projects in B.C. and helps inform ministers on whether to issue an environmental assessment certificate,” said George Heyman, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy.
“EPIC.engage makes it easier for the public to provide information that is both helpful and might otherwise be missed during the technical process of an environmental assessment.”
The website uses maps, diagrams, and plain-language summaries of technical project information, accompanied by questions to provide experts and decision-makers with the information they need, surrounding industrial and infrastructure projects like mines, pipelines, bridges, and tunnels.
Providing feedback is anonymous.
The platform protects the identity of commentors while verifying that it is an individual providing feedback, and not “bots” or people seeking to undermine a project or the assessment process.
To see the full release, visit Government of British Columbia.
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