AWA believes that energy exploration and development must be regulated in a manner that is consistent with the maintenance of wilderness values.

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• Introduction
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We believe in a fundamental need for wilderness that is free of industrial incursion; a network of legislated protected areas is currently the only framework under which this can be ensured. Outside of such areas, exploration and development must be conducted in an environmentally responsible manner. Full-field life-cycle planning must be required for all new developments including phase-out, remediation, and reclamation. Adequate reclamation liability must be assessed on a per-project basis that accounts for all remediation and reclamation costs, and does not leave Albertans vulnerable to major financial risks.
AWA believes Alberta’s wilderness and natural capital are non-renewable resources of immeasurable value, and must be considered as such and given priority in land-use planning.  An overarching land-use plan is desperately needed in Alberta to set targets for all sectors, determine thresholds and establish priorities for land use throughout the province. Conservation areas must be designated with legal protection.
When considering land disturbance impacts, the cumulative footprint of all past, present and planned developments upon the landscape must be considered. Energy development does not take place in isolation: it occurs on a landscape also impacted by forestry, residential and recreational developments. The combined footprint of all of these activities must be considered in planning decisions.
Collectively, we know that the economic value of the ecosystem services performed by natural ecosystems for humankind far exceeds that of industrial development.

AWA has been involved with Shell Canada as they work to restore landscapes once active with drilling and extraction; Waterton 12 is one such site (shown above). (N. Douglas)

Seen in the photo are AWA and Shell Canada employees discussing the process and early results of reclamation efforts at this site that has reached its full life-cycle. (C. Olson)
June 1, 2017
Update: Regulating coal mine runoff
June 2017 Wildlands Advocate article, by Nick Pink Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) is developing a…
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• Coal
• Rivers
• WLA Archive
June 1, 2017
Update: Hydro, this isn’t the renewable energy resource you’re looking for
June 2017 Wildlands Advocate article, by Nick Pink On April 4, 2017, the financiers proposing the Amisk…
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• Hydroelectric Power
• Peace River
• WLA Archive
May 18, 2017
Alberta’s Oil Sands, Coal Mines Security Not Keeping Pace with Risks
The Alberta Energy Regulator has reported that oil sands and coal mine cleanup liabilities in…
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• Cardinal Divide
• Coal
• Kakwa
• McClelland Lake
• News Release
• Oil Sands
• Rivers
May 5, 2017
AWA Letter: Expert Panel Report on Canadian Environmental Assessment Act Review
May 5, 2017 The Honourable Catherine McKenna Minister of Environment and Climate Change ec.ministre-minister.ec@canada.ca Canadian…
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• Energy
• Wildlands
• Wildwater
March 31, 2017
AWA Letter: Proposed Regulatory Framework for Coal Mining
March 31, 2017 James Arnott Mining and Processing Division Environment and Climate Change Canada Email:…
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• Coal
• Rivers
March 26, 2017
AWA Letter on Southern Mountain Caribou Protection Study
AWA comments on a joint study by Environment and Climate Change Canada and the BC…
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• Caribou
• Oil and Gas
• Rocky Mountain and Foothills Forests
March 10, 2017
Canada-Alberta Failing to Address Peace-Athabasca Delta Threats
International investigators have found major shortcomings in federal and provincial governments’ management of industrial impacts…
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• Bison
• Hydroelectric Power
• National Parks
• News Release
• Oil Sands
• Peace River
• Rivers
• Uncategorized
• Wetlands
March 1, 2017
Update: Alberta Pipeline Spill Risk Concerns
March 2017 Wildlands Advocate article, by Carolyn Campbell On February 21, 2017, the Alberta Ener-gy Regulator…
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• Pipelines
• WLA Archive
February 22, 2017
News Release: Alberta Pipeline Spill Report Misses Environmental Impacts
The Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) has released a Pipeline Performance Report identifying recent Alberta pipeline…
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• News Release
• Pipelines
February 3, 2017
AWA News Release: Alberta’s Hay River Basin at Risk: New Pollution Research
An investigation of nine pipeline spill locations in northwest Alberta’s Hay River Basin has found…
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• Hay-Zama
• News Release
• Oil and Gas
• Pipelines
December 22, 2016
AWA News Release: Protected Areas over Paddocks for Alberta’s Endangered Caribou
On December 17, the Alberta government issued a request to build a fenced compound in…
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• Bistcho
• Boreal Forest
• Caribou
• Caribou Mountains
• Chinchaga
• Hay-Zama
• Kakwa
• Little Smoky
• News Release
• Oil and Gas
• Rocky Mountain and Foothills Forests
December 20, 2016
Letter to the Editor: Coal mine puts fish in danger
The following letter to the editor was published in the Edmonton Journal, December 20 2016,…
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• Coal
• Livingstone-Porcupine
• Native Coldwater Fish