August 26, 2011
AWA News Release: Federal Government Writes Off Alberta Caribou- War on Wolves Goes National
A long overdue federal woodland caribou recovery strategy released today allows ongoing habitat loss at…
Oil and gas activity can have a wide range of impacts on natural ecosystems, from the initial exploration stage, through development, production and decommissioning of infrastructure.
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Oil and gas wells, pumping stations, roads, pipelines and collecting systems all have a substantial footprint, and so a clear and open lifetime planning system is vital to ensure avoidance of sensitive ecosystems.
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Prairie Bluff, Castle (N. Douglas)
Moose Mountain well, Kananaskis (N. Douglas)
According to Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development, oil and gas well reclamation is progressing at a much slower rate than well abandonment. This is resulting in a buildup of uncertified wells. On average, between 2002 and 2011, 14,227 wells were drilled per year, 4,111 were abandoned and 1,682 certified. This indicates that over the last 10 years, the certification rate has been approximately 40.9 per cent of the abandonment rate (Oil and Gas Reclamation, Alberta ESRD, March 2012)
Position
Alberta Wilderness Association believes that hydrocarbon exploration and development should be regulated in a manner that is consistent with the maintenance of wilderness values. There is a fundamental need for the maintenance of wilderness that is free of industrial incursion. Outside of such areas, exploration and development must be conducted in an environmentally responsible manner.
2020
In February, AWA learned that Alberta-based Seven Generations Energy was the first Canadian natural gas producer to receive Equitable Origins’ (EO) certification to the EO100 standard. AWA has since engaged with Equitable Origins certifiers to support a sound application of the biodiversity provisions of their oil and gas certification, which we believe could help improve energy industry land-use practices. Since June, AWA has engaged directly with Seven Generations Energy around biodiversity concerns and opportunities in its Kakwa region lease holdings.
In early April, AWA voiced concerns about Alberta’s March 31 decision to suspend most energy industry environmental compliance reporting requirements. We were unconvinced that this was a pandemic safety-related measure since all data gathering and record-keeping requirements remained. We joined First Nations and other ENGOs in raising concerns when Alberta further suspended most environmental monitoring requirements in late April and early May; this occurred at a time when other economic activities were re-opening with pandemic safety measures in place. Although reporting and monitoring resumed in July 2020, AWA remains concerned about the interruption of compliance reporting and loss of data collection without transparent justification.
August 1, 2011
ERCB OKs Another Sour Gas Well in the Castle… Sort of
Wild Lands Advocate update, August 2011, by Nigel Douglas 20110800_ar_cas_backus_well_ndouglas.pdf
June 21, 2011
Anthropogenic and Fire Disturbances in Woodland Caribou Herd Ranges in the Lower Athabasca Regional Plan Area
Report by Global Forest Watch Canada 20110621_rp_gfw_larp_caribou_ranges.pdf
June 1, 2011
Kananaskis Country Receives Temporary Reprieve from Sour Gas Development
Wild Lands Advocate update, June 2011, by Nigel Douglas 20110600_ar_wla_update_kan_sullivan_ndouglas.pdf
April 1, 2011
Castle Area Forest Land Use Zone: Linear Disturbances, Access Densities and Grizzly Bear Habitat Security Areas
Report by Global Forest Watch Canada, investigating linear disturbances in the Castle Area Forest Land…
January 18, 2011
AWA Opposition to ERCB Proposals to Increase Oil and Gas well Spacing
AWA letter to Energy Resource Conservation Board (ERCB), January 18, 2011, expressing AWA’s considerable opposition…
May 25, 2010
News Release: Suffield Coalition Concerned About Delay in Government Response. National Wildlife Areas Needed to Help Fight Extinction
The Suffield Coalition today expressed concern about the failure by the Government of Canada to…
March 12, 2010
News Release: Suffield National Wildlife Area – Conservation Makes Economic Sense
As shale gas discoveries greatly expand already abundant reserves of natural gas, the economics of…
November 6, 2009
Shell Reaffirms its Position on Protection in the Castle
Letter from Shell, November 6, 2009, reaffirming its position on protection in the Castle. 20091106_lt_shell_to_goa_castle_special_place.pdf
February 1, 2009
“Dirty Gas” in Rumsey Natural Area
Wild Lands Advocate article, February 2009, by Nigel Douglas. 200902_AR.pdf
October 1, 2008
Help Save Suffield
2008-10 Help Save Suffield. A video produced by Elizabeth Keith for AWA and Nature Canada,…
April 1, 2008
Are Oil and Gas Development and Conservation of Rough Fescue Prairie Compatible?
Report by biologist Cheryl Bradley prepared for the Alberta Native Plant Council. 200804_AR2.pdf