June 8, 2016
Alberta Caribou plans: Boreal blockbuster, Foothills fiasco
Today the Alberta government made a historic decision to protect extensive areas of four endangered…
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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.
May 4, 2016
AWA News Release: Good Interim Steps for Alberta Caribou, Strong Range Plans Needed
Since its election a year ago, the Alberta government has deferred new energy leasing throughout…
December 1, 2015
Alberta’s Climate Leadership Plan
Wild Lands Advocate update from December 2015 by Joanna Skrajny, Conservation Specialist. The Government of Alberta announced…
August 4, 2015
AWA News Release: End in Sight for Energy Leasing in Alberta Caribou Ranges?
Alberta Wilderness Association (AWA) has found that no new energy rights within Alberta caribou ranges…
June 17, 2015
NGO Letter to Environment & Parks Minister on Little Smoky-Duvernay Land and Water Management Crisis and Solutions
Letter to Alberta’s Minister of Environment and Parks from 10 Alberta conservation organizations, including Alberta…
May 1, 2015
AWA News Release: Oil and Gas Development Transforming North American Landscapes
Accelerated drilling activity is transforming significant portions of North America’s natural landscapes. University of Montana…
April 28, 2015
AWA News Release: Brisk Alberta Energy Lease Sales in Endangered Caribou Habitat Continue During Election: Who Will Sustainably Manage Alberta’s Forests and Wildlife?
On April 29, in the midst of an election, the Alberta government plans another major…
March 23, 2015
AWA News Release: Alberta Could Choose Habitat Recovery Plan, Instead More Lease Sales in Endangered Mountain Caribou Ranges are Planned
The Alberta government has posted new energy leases for sale in the same endangered mountain…
March 21, 2015
AWA News Release: Little Smoky Fracking Water Application Reveals Alberta’s Missing Cumulative Effects Management in Duvernay Region
Alberta’s lack of cumulative effects management is revealed in Shell’s recent application to use up…
March 8, 2015
AWA Statement of Concern: Shell Application for Lake Water for Fracking in Little Smoky Duvernay Region
AWA’s Statement of Concern to the Alberta Energy Regulator on Shell’s application to use up…
March 5, 2015
AWA News Release: Major New Energy Lease Sales Imminent in Endangered Alberta Caribou Habitat
On March 11, the Alberta government plans a major auction of new oil and gas…
February 20, 2015
AWA News Release: Alberta Steps Up Fracking-Caused Earthquake Oversight
On February 19, the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) ordered oil and gas operators in west…
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