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2002/03 Annual Service Plan Report
Ministry of Energy and Mines

Annual Service Plan Report Appendices

Glossary of Ministry of Energy and Mine Terms

Acid Gas	The hydrogen sulphide and/or carbon dioxide contained in or extracted from gas or other streams.
Climate Change	Climate change is the change in the "average weather" that a given region experiences. Average weather includes all the features associated with the weather such as temperature, wind patterns and precipitation. Climate change on a global scale refers to changes in the climate of the earth as a whole.
Coalbed Methane	Coalbed methane is gas formed by biochemical and physical processes during the conversion of plant material into coal. Methane constitutes the majority of gases created during the conversion process. It is similar to conventional natural gas, but is produced from low-pressure underground coal formations rather than from underground sandstone or carbonate rock formations. It is referred to as "sweet gas" as it typically contains very few impurities such as hydrogen sulphide and carbon dioxide normally found in natural gas.
Geoscience	The study of earth sciences, including geology, geochemistry, geophysics. At the Ministry of Energy and Mines, it includes geological mapping, resource evaluation, and economic geology as it relates to metallic minerals, coal and energy products and oil and gas.
Geothermal Resources	Geothermal resources include the earth's natural heat and all substances that get added value from it. This includes steam, water, water vapour, and all substances dissolved in the steam, water or water vapour obtained from a well. It does not include water at less than 80 degrees centigrade at the surface or hydrocarbons.
Reclamation	The act of returning the land and watercourses disturbed by mining to a productive use, equal to or better than the pre-mining condition.
Tight Gas	Gas with very low flow rates that is found in sedimentary layers of rock that are cemented together so tight that it greatly hinders that extraction. Getting tight gas out usually requires enhanced technology like "hydraulic fracturing" where fluid is pumped into the ground to make it more permeable.

Crowns, Agencies, Boards and Commissions Reporting to the Minister of Energy and Mines

Assayers Certification Board of Examiners

An independent board of examiners drawn from educators and industry to oversee the assayers certification program, which is authorized in the Ministry of Energy and Mines. This ensures that assayers practicing in British Columbia meet the high standards of competency required by the mining and securities industries. Since the program was introduced, over 600 assayers have been certified. British Columbia is the only mining jurisdiction in the world that requires assayers to pass a rigorous practical examination before being certified.

BC Hydro

A provincial Crown corporation that is regulated by the BC Utilities Commission. BC Hydro's mission is to provide integrated energy solutions to customers in an environmentally and socially responsible manner.

BC Utilities Commission

A regulatory agency operating under and administering the Utilities Commission Act. The Commission's mission is to ensure that ratepayers receive safe, reliable, and nondiscriminatory energy services at fair rates from utilities it regulates, and that shareholders of those utilities are afforded a reasonable opportunity to earn a fair return on their invested capital.

Columbia Basin Trust

A regional corporation created in 1995 to work with residents of the Columbia Basin to promote social, economic and environmental well being in the region most affected by the Columbia River Treaty.

Columbia Power Corporation

A Crown corporation wholly owned by the Province. Pursuant to the Columbia Basin Accord signed in 1995, the Columbia Power Corporation's mandate is to undertake power project investments as the agent of the Province on a joint venture basis with the Columbia Basin Trust.

Mediation and Arbitration Board

Provides mediation and arbitration support if parties have difficulty reaching an agreement for oil and gas activity that takes place on private land. The owner has surface title, while the Province retains the rights to subsurface minerals, including petroleum, and natural gas. Companies that acquire rights to carry out this activity must compensate affected property owners.

Oil and Gas Commission

The provincial agency that regulates the crude oil, natural gas and pipeline activities in British Columbia. Its mandate is to provide efficient processes for the review of applications related to the oil and gas sector, ensuring that decisions are made in the public interest — having regard for environmental, economic and social impacts.

Legislation Administered by the Ministry of Energy and Mines

Coal Act

Columbia Basin Trust Act

Economic Electricity Rate Act

Energy Efficiency act

Fort Nelson Indian Reserve Minerals Revenue Sharing Act

Gas Utility Act

Geothermal Resources Act

Hydro and Power Authority Privatization Act

Hydro Power Measures Act

Indian Reserve Mineral Resource Act

Mineral Land Tax Act

Mineral Tax Act

Mineral Tenure Act

Mines Act

Mining Right of Way Act

Mining Rights Amendment Act

Ministry of Energy and Mines Act

Natural Gas Price Act

Oil and Gas Commission Act

Petroleum and Natural Gas (Vancouver Island Railway Lands) Act

Petroleum and Natural Gas Act

Pipeline Act

Power for Jobs Development Act

Utilities Commission Act

Vancouver Island Natural Gas Pipeline Act