| Last updated September 8, 2026. The Elk Valley Area Based Management Plan is being amended. Amendment #1 is complete: On July 30th, 2025, the Minister of Environment and Parks approved the 2025 Elk Valley Water Quality Plan (EVWQP) as the Area Based Management Plan for the Elk Valley. Learn more about Amendment #1. Amendment #2 is underway: The Terms of Reference for Phase 2 was approved by the Minister on July 31, 2026. This amendment to review the selenium target in the Koocanusa Reservoir is underway and anticipated to be done by December 2027. Learn more about Amendment #2. |
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Project summary
The Ministry of Environment and Parks is developing amendments to the Elk Valley Area Based Management Plan (ABMP) in accordance with a Ministerial Order issued in July 2024. The Ministerial Order required that the ABMP be amended in two phases, referred to as Amendment #1 and Amendment #2.
On July 30, 2025, the ministry completed Amendment #1. The updated plan is written by the government and applies to all dischargers in the watershed. It describes the long term goals for the watershed and confirms the water quality targets that were set in 2014. It gives guidance on how to achieve the goals and targets, and establishes a process to keep the plan up to date. The amended plan was developed with input from provincial, federal and Ktunaxa First Nations governments, as well as industry and the public.
Amendment #2 is now underway. On July 31, 2026, the Minister approved the Terms of Reference for the project and it is expected to be completed by December 2027.
Project timeline
2013
Ministerial Order requires EVR Operations Ltd. (then Teck Coal Ltd.) to prepare an ABMP to stabilize and improve water quality
2014
The 2014 Elk Valley Water Quality Plan (2014 EVWQP) is approved as the ABMP for the Elk Valley, and implementation begins
2014 to present
Implementation includes ongoing environmental monitoring and research, newly developed source control and treatment technologies, and proposals for new and expanded mining
July 9, 2024
Ministerial Order issued for B.C. to amend the ABMP by July 2025
August 2024
Engagement and early input from Ktunaxa First Nations and stakeholders
September 2024 to April 2025
Development of draft 2025 EVWQP for Amendment #1, including early engagement with Ktunaxa First Nations at each stage in the process, and three rounds of review and input from an Advisory Committee (Ktunaxa First Nations, governments and industry)
May 2025
Public comment period
June 2025
Ministerial Order issued to extend the timeline for developing the Terms of Reference for Amendment #2
July 30, 2025
Minister approved the 2025 EVWQP as the Elk Valley ABMP
August 2025 to June 2026
Planning and development of the Terms of Reference for Amendment #2
January 2026
Ministerial Order issued to further extend the timeline for developing the Terms of Reference for Amendment #2
July 31, 2026
Minister approved the Terms of Reference for Amendment #2
August 2026 to present
Amendment #2 is underway
What is the ABMP?
Area Based Management Plans (ABMPs) in B.C. are developed under the Environmental Management Act. An ABMP is a policy framework that identifies environmental management goals and strategies to help manage waste discharges in a designated area.
The Elk Valley is the only area in B.C. with an ABMP. The Elk Valley ABMP is called the Elk Valley Water Quality Plan (EVWQP). The EVWQP focuses on water quality and is used to manage historic and current waste generated by multiple mines in the Elk River watershed. It outlines a strategy to improve water quality while mining activities are ongoing.
The ABMP identifies long term goals and water quality targets throughout the watershed and gives guidance on how to achieve them. ABMPs themselves are not legally enforceable, however, they can inform issuance or amendments to permits which contain enforceable requirements.
Why amend the ABMP?
The ABMP is intended to adapt over time.
After ten years of implementing the ABMP (2014 EVWQP), the ministry identified an opportunity to update the plan to reflect a large amount of new information and science. With other mining companies proposing new mines in the watershed, there was also a need to clarify how the plan applies to all dischargers. This led to the Minister of Environment and Parks issuing an order to update the plan into a government authored document that reflects the new science and establishes processes to keep the plan up to date.
