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The Government of Alberta Ministries of Environment, Sustainable Resource Development, (including the Surface Rights Board – SRB) and Energy, (including the Energy Resources Conservation Board - ERCB), each deal in some form with the drilling, access to, operation, maintenance, reclamation, and remediation of wellsites. As a general guideline:
Where can I find information on oil and gas well drilling and general operation? In Alberta, the Energy Resources Conservation Board (ERCB), an independent, quasi-judicial agency of the Government of Alberta, adjudicates and regulates matters related to energy and utilities within Alberta to ensure that the development, transportation and monitoring of the province's energy resources are in the public interest. This is achieved through its activities in the application and hearing process, standards setting and regulation, monitoring, and surveillance and enforcement. In this way, all inquiries regarding oil and gas development, transportation and monitoring within Alberta, other than site clean up and reclamation or remediation, should be directed to the ERCB. To find out more, visit the ERCB. Where can I find information on wellsite reclamation or clean up? Alberta's Upstream Oil and Gas Reclamation and Remediation Program ensures that land used for oil and gas development is restored to a productive state. The program, developed in consultation with landowners, industry and other affected stakeholders, requires all upstream oil and gas sites on private and public land to be reclaimed when a site is no longer productive. Alberta Environment is responsible for reclamation of private land and Alberta Sustainable Resource Development for public land. Alberta Environment oversees the development of guidelines and documentation used to administer these parallel programs. Where can I find information on sour gas wells and public safety? In Alberta the Energy Resources Conservation Board (ERCB) is an independent, quasi-judicial agency of the Government of Alberta who adjudicates and regulates matters related to energy and utilities within Alberta to ensure that the development, transportation and monitoring of the province's energy resources are in the public interest. This is achieved through its activities in the application and hearing process, standards setting and regulation, monitoring, and surveillance and enforcement. In January 2000, the ERCB (then the Energy and Utilities Board - EUB) struck the Provincial Advisory Committee on Public Safety and Sour Gas. Although established by the ERCB, it was created as an independent body. The multi-stakeholder Committee's purpose is to evaluate existing sour gas policies, standards and regulations, report its findings, and give recommendations to the ERCB for implementation by it and others, through public consultation and analysis. For more information visit the website for the Provincial Advisory Committee on Public Safety and Sour Gas or the ERCB website. Where can I find information on surface rights? Most land in Alberta has two titles. The owner of the surface title has control of the land's surface and the right to work it. The owner of the mineral title has the right to explore for and produce oil, gas and other minerals from under that land surface. The surface owner's Certificate of Title is subject to the mineral owner's right to enter the land in order to work and remove the minerals. This approach to land rights is based on the assumption that obtaining oil, gas and other minerals is in the general public's interest. For more information visit Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development's website on Negotiating Surface Rights. |
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