As part of a review of the Electoral Area "F" Official Community Plan (OCP) completed in 2018, it was recommended that “an updated technical assessment of geotechnical hazards in the West Bench / Sage Mesa area using new technologies (e.g., LiDAR) that were not available when the area was last assessed” be undertaken.

The Greater West Bench Geotechnical Review (2022) was subsequently completed by Ecora Engineering & Resource Group Ltd. and Clarke Geoscience Ltd. and recommended, amongst other things, that the Regional District create a publicly accessible database of previously completed geohazard and geotechnical reports.

The Regional District is currently working to develop the Greater West Bench Geotechnical Report Library to implement this recommendation. At this time, the library remains under development and is not yet publicly accessible.

Why is the Regional District creating a geotechnical report library?

The purpose of the Regional District's Greater West Bench Geotechnical Report Library is to assist other professionals by providing public access to previously completed geohazard and geotechnical reports, which would support the provision of consistent results and ensure the availability of relevant information upon which judgements are made regarding hazard and risk.

When would geotechnical reports be collected and added to the library?

Geotechnical reports would be collected as part of development applications (e.g., applications for building permits, soil deposit/removal permits, development variance permits, etc.) and added to the library.

How will the Regional District protect residents' private information if the reports are available for public access?

 Geotechnical reports would be redacted prior to making the reports publicly accessible. The types of information that would be redacted include:

• Names of property owners and representatives;
• Signatures;
• File numbers;
• Contact information (e.g., mailing addresses, email addresses, phone numbers);
• Other identifying information.

**NOTE: The Regional District Board is anticipated to consider the adoption of a new Geotechnical Report Requirements Policy at a future Regional District Board of Directors meeting. If adopted, geotechnical reports would need to meet specified digital and privacy standards, which would restrict reports from including personal information of property owners/applicants. For more information, please refer to the Geotechnical Report Requirements Policy Review project webpage **

planning@rdos.bc.ca