Specified Enactment Direction – EPEA Approvals
The AER announced that it had issued Specified Enactment Direction 001: Direction for Conservation and Reclamation Submissions Under an Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act Approval for Enhanced Recovery In Situ Oil Sands and Heavy Oil Processing Plants and Oil Production Sites (“SED 001”) under section 137 of the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act (“EPEA”). The AER noted that SED 001 replaces Manual 010: Guidelines for the Submission of Predisturbance Assessment and Conservation and Reclamation Plan, and Guidelines for Submission of an Annual Conservation and Reclamation Report.
The AER noted that SED 001 includes a direction on completion of a project-level conservation, reclamation, and closure plan (“PLCRCP”). Although a PLCRCP was typically required by EPEA approval terms, guidance for developing a PLCRCP had not been documented previously.
SED 001, according to the AER, integrates the PLCRCP, site predisturbance assessment, and site specific conservation and construction plans, as well as annual conservation and reclamation reporting into a single document.
Current EPEA approval holders must fulfill the requirements in SED 001 to demonstrate compliance with their EPEA approvals.
