November 1, 2014
Get off Coal: A Doctor’s Prescription by Dr. Joe Vipond
Wild Lands Advocate article, November 2014, by Dr. Joe Vipond. Coal is king of the…
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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AWA’s mandate throughout its four decades has been the protection of intact, representative ecosystems across Alberta. In areas where economic development is integrated within a working landscape, AWA supports robust management, regulation, and enforcement strategies.
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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)
November 1, 2014
Should we embrace carbon capture and storage?
Wild Lands Advocate article, November 2014, by Dr. John R. Parkins. Carbon capture and storage…
October 31, 2014
Letter from AWA to Riversdale Re: Drilling
Alberta Wilderness Association (AWA) has been made aware of the drilling occurring on the Grassy…
October 10, 2014
AWA News Release: Alberta Oil-Gas-Oilsands Footprint Grows in Endangered Caribou Habitat Despite Viable Alternatives
An area the size of Prince Edward Island (over 560,000 hectares) has been auctioned for…
October 10, 2014
AWA Letter to Energy Minister Oberle re: 1976 Coal Development Policy for Alberta
Honourable Frank Oberle Minister of Energy #408 Legislature Building 10800 – 97 Avenue Edmonton, AB…
October 8, 2014
AWA Letter to Premier re: Lease Sales in Milk River Ridge HR
Letter sent by AWA to Premier Jim Prentice regarding the proposed establishment via the SSRP…
July 23, 2014
South Saskatchewan Regional Plan
The Land Use Framework (LUF) divides the province into seven regions based on major watersheds,…
June 3, 2014
AWA News Release: AWA Applauds Charges Laid Against Plains Midstream for Red Deer River Crude Oil Pipeline Spill
The Canadian and Alberta governments recently laid charges against Plains Midstream for its June 7,…
May 13, 2014
Birds and Tar Sands Tailings Ponds: Ever Safe to Land?
Wild Lands Advocate article, April 2014, by Carolyn Campbell. The Oil Sands Regional Bird Monitoring…
April 16, 2014
Dark and Dirty: Time to Dethrone King Coal in Alberta
Wildlands Advocate article, February 2014, by Brittany Verbeek. Despite coal development’s significant negative impacts on…
April 10, 2014
Alberta’s Bats on Non-Licence Animal List
Letter from AWA to Honourable Robin Campbell Minister of Environment and Sustainable Resource Development. There…
March 19, 2014
A Telling Tailings Tale [audio / video]
Audio clip (14m:15s) from Terra Informa and CJSR radio highlighting the tailings pond spill at…