Environment
Government of Alberta
Location: Alberta Government > Environment > Information Centre

FAQ-Land-Reclamation

The Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act (EPEA) defines reclamation to mean any or all of the following:

  • the removal of equipment or buildings or other structures or appurtenances;
  • the decontamination of buildings or other structures or other appurtenances, or land or water;
  • the stabilization, contouring, maintenance, conditioning or reconstruction of the surface of land; and
  • any other procedure, operation or requirement specified in the regulations.
Where can I find information on land reclamation?

Alberta Environment protects the province's land resource base, under the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act (EPEA), by ensuring that land used for specified industrial activities (specified land) is developed and reclaimed in an environmentally sound manner. The Act requires operators to employ effective conservation and reclamation measures. These measures require specified land is reclaimed to equivalent land capability as defined in the Conservation and Reclamation regulation.

For more information on land reclamation, visit the Alberta Environment website.

What steps do I need to take to get a reclamation certificate for an upstream oil and gas site?

Alberta Environment's Upstream Oil and Gas Reclamation and Remediation Program ensures upstream well sites are returned to a productive state. When a site is no longer productive, the company who owns the well or pipeline applies for a reclamation certificate from Alberta Environment for private land or Alberta Sustainable Resource Development for public land. Each application must include an assessment of contamination and if contamination is present, a report detailing how contaminants were remediated and surface issues were addressed. If all standards are met, the company is issued a reclamation certificate.

Alberta Environment consulted with landowners, industry and other affected stakeholders to identify how the Upstream Oil and Gas Reclamation Program could be improved. Alberta Environment is committed to ongoing improvement of the program and will continue to consult with stakeholder groups to meet their needs and protect the environment.

The Alberta Environment Guideline,Upstream Oil and Gas Reclamation describes what is needed for the reclamation certificate application. Alberta Environment's Upstream Oil and Gas Reclamation and Remediation website, also contains updated information on the program.

Where do I find information on compliance for drilling waste disposal to obtain a reclamation certificate?

Depending on the information available, there are two Compliance Option checklists to complete to determine if the site is compliant for drilling waste disposal. If there is insufficient information to complete the checklists, a Phase II environmental site assessment (ESA) must be conducted. As well, the checklists contain some question responses that require a Phase II ESA to determine if the site is compliant. The guidance document,Assessing Drilling Waste Disposal Areas: Compliance Options for Reclamation Certification (AENV 2007), provides information and questions to determine if the drilling waste disposal was compliant.

Where can I find the Code of Practice for Pits for sand and gravel operations?

The Code and the accompanying Guide to the Code (2004) are available on-line. The hyperlinks for these documents are Code of Practice for Pits and Guide to the Code of Practice for Pits.

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