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ARTICLE · 30 OCTOBER 2012

Alberta To Create New Unified Energy Resource Regulator

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On October 24, 2012, the Alberta government introduced legislation to unify upstream energy resource regulation in Alberta under the control of a single regulator. Under Bill 2, the Responsible Energy Development Act, the Alberta Energy Regulator will be created, combining the existing regulatory functions of the Energy Resources Conservation Board and Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development.

CanadaEnergy and Natural Resources
David Both
David Both
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On October 24, 2012, the Alberta government introduced legislation to unify upstream energy resource regulation in Alberta under the control of a single regulator. Under Bill 2, the Responsible Energy Development Act, the Alberta Energy Regulator will be created, combining the existing regulatory functions of the Energy Resources Conservation Board and Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development. The new regulator will have responsibility for the regulation of all upstream activities "from initial application to reclamation" in the oil, natural gas, oil sands and coal industries, including matters relating to air, water, land, mine and facility authorizations.

The Alberta Energy Regulator will introduce a single-window approach to energy resource regulation, and will operate under the policy guidance of a unified Policy Management Office. This new body, another part of the Alberta government's effort to integrate resource management, will set

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