Alberta Energy Regulator Institutes Changes To Compliance And Enforcement Program

On February 12, 2016, the Alberta Energy Regulator ("AER") overhauled its compliance and enforcement program with the release of the Integrated Compliance Assurance Framework ("ICAF") and Manual 013: Compliance and Enforcement Program ("Manual 013").The ICAF and Manual 013 supersede and replace Directive 019:Compliance Assurance ("Directive 019"). The AER indicated that the purpose for rescinding Directive 019 is that it contained no rules or requirements and provided guidance based only on the ERCB compliance assurance process.

The ICAF outlines the AER's strategy and approach to ensuring its rules and directives are followed. Previously, the AER had been conducting compliance and enforcement work using both the Energy Resources Conservation Board ("ERCB") and Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development systems, which had the potential to lead to inconsistent responses from AER staff when encountering noncompliant events. The ICAF describes the