The Nechako Environmental Enhancement Fund (NEEF) is a fund that was established as part of the BC/Alcan 1997 Agreement between the province of BC and Rio Tinto. As part of the agreement, Rio Tinto will contribute up to $50 million to the NEEF, on a matching dollar basis.
Download BC/Alcan 1997 Agreement Download BC/Alcan 1997 Agreement - Schedule 4
The NEEF Management Committee (NEEF MC) was given the mandate to decide how the funds should be used. Between December 2011 and May 2012, the NEEF MC completed multiple consultations with the public, stakeholders, First Nations and subject matter experts on the question of what the money should be used for. This resulted in the 2012 decisions report for use of the Nechako Environmental Enhancement Fund which identified objectives for the fund, and potential projects.
Milestones related to some of the potential projects identified in the 2012 report were not met. As such, as of January 1, 2014 those funds became available for a five year period to establish a legacy fund. No party came forward to establish a legacy fund, and the legacy fund option expired on December 31, 2018.
In February 2020, NEEF MC amended to the 2012 Decisions to allocate the unused funds.
Under the amended Decisions, funds will be made available on an annual basis until 2050 or longer as follows:
The NEEF MC continues to support the four objectives identified for the fund and will assess all future project proposals against those objectives. Learn more about Objectives here.
View the amended NEEF Management Committee Decisions for the Allocation of Uncommitted NEEF Funds – Amendment to 2012 Decisions here.
