Petronas, Halfway River First Nation reach agreement on damaged beaver dam

WONOWON, B.C. — Halfway River First Nation (HRFN) has reached an agreement with Petronas after the energy giant’s external contractor damaged a beaver dam in the Gundy area on the band’s land in November 2021.

Both parties were contacted by Energeticcity.ca, but they declined to provide further comments.

A public notice from Petronas says the company immediately notified both the First Nation and the British Columbia Energy Regulator (BCER).

After the incident, which the company refers to as “highly regrettable,” HRFN and Petronas developed the framework for a Restorative Justice agreement (RJA) at a Community Environmental Justice Forum (CEJF) in April 2023.

In the notice, Petronas thanked HRFN, the energy regulator, and the BC Conservation Officer Service for “providing a path forward.”

According to the B.C. government’s website, an RJA is an agreement between entities that see crime as a violation of people’s relationships and community and seek solutions through mediation instead of placing blame and enforcing punishment via civil or criminal court.

In 2010, a restorative justice agreement was signed by parties in Trail, B.C., regarding mercury discharge overflow in the Columbia River from Trail Teck Metals.  The company agreed to the recommendations the Ministry of Environment and Climate Strategy sought and looked for additional solutions to avoid further penalties.

A CEJF is a forum where the mediator works with an offending company, ministry enforcement staff and the affected community to propose solutions.

In Petronas and HRFN’s case, the company agreed to enhance its environmental stewardship and will collaborate with the BCER to create an information bulletin for industry to avoid the potential of similar incidents happening again.

The company will also support ongoing moose or caribou studies with the University of Northern BC, work towards a wildlife management plan and restore two identified Gundy Creek crossings.