British Columbia Services - Archaeological Impact Assessment (AIA):
- is conducted under a BC Heritage Inspection Permit
- determines the locations of previously recorded archaeological sites within 5000m of the development using the BC Heritage Resource Inventory Application (HRIA) and the BC Remote Access to Archaeological Data (RAAD)
- utilizes all available "tools" including the Millennia Northeast British Columbia Archaeological Potential Model in considering the archaeological potential of a development area
- may include a literature review, discussion with aboriginal communities and/or private landowners with interests in the development area
- includes a field assessment to revisit previously recorded archaeological sites, to identify new archaeological resources within the development area and evaluate site significance of archaeological resources identified. During the assessment areas of moderate to very high archaeological potential will be subject to subsurface testing for the identification of archaeological resources.
- may include the identification of planned and unplanned development related impacts to archaeological resources and recommends archaeo-logical site impact mitigation
- AIA Reporting: submitted to the BC Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations, Archaeology Branch, Permitting and Assessment Section, the Oil and Gas Commission and the client as required
- Pre-Construction AIA: almost always preferable to construction monitoring or Post-Construction AIAs because a pre-construction environment offers greater options for intact archaeological site recording and site impact mitigation. Pre-Construction AIAs are conducted under both summer and winter field conditions.
- Post-Construction AIA: conducted at the discretion of the BC Archaeology Branch and requires an individual BC Heritage Inspection Permit. While having degraded site impact mitigation opportunities, Post-Construction AIAs may offer increased ground visibility through construction disturbances and an increased opportunity for site recording. Post-Construction AIAs have had significant success on geophysical programs in BC.
