Do industry professionals have too much environmental management responsibility?

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VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – There are fears too much responsibility for overseeing the environment now lies with industry professionals instead of civil servants in BC.

A new study from the University of Victoria finds much of the deregulation that’s happened in BC goes too far in handing over matters of public interest to those employed by industry.

It says there can be conflicts of interest that are irresolvable, and there isn’t enough democratic accountability for many decisions in resource management.

The researchers say many regulations have “an unduly loose, unstructured approach that fails to address known concerns.”

One of the systems put in that category is forestry. They say there isn’t enough attention on making sure there is enough trees and foliage between areas that have been logged and bodies of water.

The contaminated sites regime is used as an example of being well-structured when it comes to using industry experts.

The study does note the approach to professional reliance varies across regulatory regimes. It says it would not be credible to broadly state that professional reliance is a success or a failure.

The researchers have a “threshold test” — they’re suggesting current regimes be measured against before professional reliance is expanded.

They also have a list of criteria for best practices after it’s found using industry professionals is an appropriate route.

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