Latest news with #EnvironmentalProtectionandEnhancementAct
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Alberta Energy Regulator penalizes CEPro Energy & Environmental Services Inc. for contraventions
CALGARY, AB, May 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) has issued an administrative penalty to CEPro Energy & Environmental Services Inc. (CEPro) in the amount of $456 000, for contraventions of the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act (EPEA). A copy of the decision is on the AER's Compliance Dashboard. Following an investigation, the AER determined that CEPro contravened section 227(b) and 227(c) of EPEA by failing to provide information and for providing false or misleading information. In February 2023, CEPro submitted five reclamation certificate applications for oil sands exploration programs on behalf of Everest Canadian Resources Corp. through the AER's OneStop system. Applications are required to include a declaration attesting to the accuracy of the information. Subsequently reclamation certificates were issued based on the information provided. On May 25, 2023, an AER audit of the application submissions identified multiple regulatory breaches. Subsequent audits confirmed further deficiencies, including falsified or missing data relating to Phase 1 environmental site assessments (ESAs), among other requirements. Accordingly, the AER cancelled the reclamation certificates that had been issued to Everest based on information submitted to the AER by CEPro. An administrative penalty is one of many compliance and enforcement tools the AER can use when companies do not comply with the regulatory requirements. For more information on the AER's investigation enforcement processes, please see the Investigations webpage on the Alberta Energy Regulator The AER provides for the safe, efficient, orderly, and environmentally responsible development of energy and mineral resources in Alberta through our regulatory activities. For more information visit Contact Email: media@ | Media line: 1-855-474-6356 Connect with AER X | LinkedIn | Facebook CONTACT: AER Media Alberta Energy Regulator 1-855-474-6356 media@ in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Alberta Energy Regulator penalizes CEPro Energy & Environmental Services Inc. for contraventions
CALGARY, AB, May 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) has issued an administrative penalty to CEPro Energy & Environmental Services Inc. (CEPro) in the amount of $456 000, for contraventions of the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act (EPEA). A copy of the decision is on the AER's Compliance Dashboard. Following an investigation, the AER determined that CEPro contravened section 227(b) and 227(c) of EPEA by failing to provide information and for providing false or misleading information. In February 2023, CEPro submitted five reclamation certificate applications for oil sands exploration programs on behalf of Everest Canadian Resources Corp. through the AER's OneStop system. Applications are required to include a declaration attesting to the accuracy of the information. Subsequently reclamation certificates were issued based on the information provided. On May 25, 2023, an AER audit of the application submissions identified multiple regulatory breaches. Subsequent audits confirmed further deficiencies, including falsified or missing data relating to Phase 1 environmental site assessments (ESAs), among other requirements. Accordingly, the AER cancelled the reclamation certificates that had been issued to Everest based on information submitted to the AER by CEPro. An administrative penalty is one of many compliance and enforcement tools the AER can use when companies do not comply with the regulatory requirements. For more information on the AER's investigation enforcement processes, please see the Investigations webpage on the Alberta Energy Regulator The AER provides for the safe, efficient, orderly, and environmentally responsible development of energy and mineral resources in Alberta through our regulatory activities. For more information visit Contact Email: media@ | Media line: 1-855-474-6356 Connect with AER X | LinkedIn | Facebook CONTACT: AER Media Alberta Energy Regulator 1-855-474-6356 media@ in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
AER announces new Chief Hearing Commissioner Appointment
Current Chief Hearing Commissioner to retire after 14 years Calgary, Alberta, May 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) is pleased to announce the Government of Alberta has appointed Andrew MacPherson, PEng as Chief Hearing Commissioner effective June 17, 2025, to October 20, 2029. The appointment comes as Alex Bolton, PGeo, retires on June 16, 2025, after serving as Chief Hearing Commissioner since 2014. 'We are pleased to welcome Andrew to this role, where his deep experience and commitment to fair and transparent decision-making will serve Albertans well,' said Duncan Au, chair of the AER board of directors. 'We would also like to extend our thanks to Alex Bolton. His leadership has been instrumental in strengthening the AER's hearing function and upholding the integrity, fairness, and independence that Albertans expect. We are grateful for his dedication and the lasting impact on the organization and regulatory system.' Andrew MacPherson, a professional engineer with a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from Dalhousie University, brings more than 27 years of industry, regulatory, and leadership experience to his role as Chief Hearing Commissioner. He has been with the AER for 19 years, beginning as a senior reservoir engineer and advancing into leadership and director roles across multiple teams. His work has included developing and updating AER directives, representing the AER on the Oil Sands Monitoring Program, and contributing to the Science and Indigenous Knowledge Integration Committee. Andrew also has extensive statutory decision-making experience under legislation such as the Oil Sands Conservation Act and the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act. Hearing commissioners perform adjudicative functions under the Responsible Energy Development Act and its regulations, which require them to consider the social, environmental, and economic impacts of proposed projects. They serve as independent decision makers on applications and regulatory appeals referred by the AER, lead hearings and public inquiries, and may facilitate alternative dispute resolution. Commissioners play a key role in developing the AER's hearing procedures and rules. The full biography for Andrew MacPherson can be found on About the Alberta Energy Regulator The AER provides for the safe, efficient, orderly, and environmentally responsible development of energy resources in Alberta through our regulatory activities. For more information visit Contact Email: media@ | Media line: 1-855-474-6356 Connect with AER X | LinkedIn | YouTube | Facebook CONTACT: Media Alberta Energy Regulator 1-855-474-6356 media@ in to access your portfolio
CBC
28-02-2025
- Business
- CBC
$9,000 fine for coal mine leak into Alberta river a 'slap on the wrist,' critics say
A $9,000 fine levied against a coal company for releasing mine-contaminated wastewater into a northwestern Alberta river is a weak reprimand for the toxic leak, critics say. CST Canada Coal Limited was sanctioned this week by the Alberta Energy Regulator for an incident in the spring of 2023 when 1.1 million litres of tailings escaped into the Smoky River, a major tributary of the Peace River. Wastewater from CST metallurgical coal mine near Grande Cache, about 430 kilometres northwest of Edmonton, spilled from the site, sending harmful plumes of fine tailings into the river. The company was sanctioned under the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act for allowing the release to occur and for failing to immediately report the spill to the provincial regulator. 'Half measures' NDP MLA Marlin Schmidt, who previously served as the party's environment critic, said the regulator needs to issue more substantial fines, especially for repeat offenders such as CST. Operators who fail to meet environmental obligations should face increased scrutiny and escalating fines, Schmidt said. "I can't see that this is going to be an effective enforcement tool," he said. "It's not an effective deterrent for the companies and it's an extremely expensive process for the Alberta Energy Regulator. "There's no benefit here to engaging in these piddling half measures." Last year, the AER fined the operator $22,000 for spilling untreated mine wastewater into the Smoky River in December 2022. The company has not commented on the latest penalty. In a brief statement to CBC, the AER said penalties are calculated within a legislative framework that "aims for consistency, transparency, and deterrence." Tara Russell, program director with the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society's northern Alberta chapter, said CST's track record raises serious concerns about its ability to manage mine waste. She described the $9,000 fine as a "slap on the wrist." Russell said the penalty will undermine public trust in the industry and the provincial regulator, and will do little to incentivize the company to better protect the environment. "It's quite a small penalty for something that was deemed to have moderate potential for adverse effects downstream," Russell said. With the Alberta government's recent move to lift the ban on coal exploration in the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains, the case sets a troubling precedent for the industry, Russell said. "This is an indication that companies are going to get a slap on the wrist if they put mine wastewater into the aquatic environment. "This is one mine operator in this watershed and river system … and we're facing that threat of new coal mine development all down the eastern slopes." The latest leak The release occurred March 4, 2023, from the open pit and underground mine. A valve in the site's wastewater system froze, causing a tailings pond to overflow, leaving a sheen across the river's surface. The AER investigation found that the company lacked reporting protocols, failed to have adequately trained staff on site, and did not have ice removal equipment on standby to complete repairs. The mine wastewater spilled into the Smoky River for at least 17 hours. By the time it was contained, an estimated 9,000 kilograms of suspended solids had been released into the river, posing a risk to aquatic life downstream. Coal wastewater frequently contains selenium, a substance toxic to fish, and the regulator found that species near the release site could be harmed by the fine sediments. The plumes could damage their gills and trigger behavioural changes — with Arctic grayling and bull trout most at risk from exposure, the regulator found. Staff on the ground did not immediately notify senior staff, and workers qualified to manage the spill were not on site. AER was not notified until more than seven hours after the release was detected. A troubled mine The mine has a history of operational issues and financial hardships. CST Group, based in Hong Kong and incorporated in the Cayman Islands, bought the mine in 2017 after the previous owner, Grande Cache Coal, went bankrupt, forcing hundreds in the hamlet out of work. It has since faced a series of regulatory investigations. Months before the March 2023 release, more than 100,000 litres of coal wash escaped from the site into the Smoky River on Dec. 29, 2022. That leak, which the company failed to immediately report, was blamed on operational failures including frozen pipes and broken sensors. The following June, heavy rains and regional flooding led to the release of an unknown amount of wastewater from the mine. Inspectors were called to the mine repeatedly in 2023 for "rock-wall instabilities" — one of which partially buried a piece of heavy equipment and the operator inside it. Schmidt said the case demonstrates that the AER continues to adopt a "light touch" with industry. He said he's concerned that political pressure to "roll out the red carpet" to coal development in Alberta has undermined environmental oversights in the industry.
Yahoo
10-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
CNRL was fined $278K after hundreds of birds died in a tailings pond. Now it has launched an appeal
A major operator in Alberta's oilsands is appealing a $278,000 regulatory fine it was issued after hundreds of birds died in one of its toxic tailings ponds. Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. was sanctioned last year by the Alberta Energy Regulator for not stopping the birds from nesting on an island that emerged from a pond at the Horizon oilsands mine, about 60 kilometres north of Fort McMurray. Throughout the spring and summer of 2022, more than 400 California gulls died from exposure to the contaminated water. CNRL was convicted of a single count under the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act for failing to safely contain the hazardous substances that are found in their tailings ponds. Six months since the fine was levied, the AER has now granted the Calgary-based company leave to appeal the sanction. Critics say CNRL should take accountability for the environmental infractions. 'The wrong message' "It sends the wrong message," said David Spink, an environmental consultant and former industry regulator with the Alberta government. "There's no question that the birds died and there's no question that it was your facility that was responsible." In a statement to CBC News, AER said the sanction is eligible for an appeal under the regulations laid out in the Responsible Energy Development Act but a hearing date has not yet been set. CNRL declined to comment, citing the pending review. Spink, who once served as a director of air and water approvals for Alberta, said the fine is small price to pay for an oil and gas giant such as CNRL. The Calgary-based operator reported a net income of $8.2 billion in 2023. The appeal demonstrates that CNRL is unwilling to answer for its infractions, he said. "They may not be eager to accept this blemish on their environmental record," he said. The contravention is among a string of mass bird deaths in the oilsands. The high-profile landings prompted years of research and monitoring aimed at preventing flocks from dying in Alberta's expanse of tailings ponds. The Athabasca oilsands are at the centre of a major migratory pathway for birds and protecting the species that fly over the region is a condition of licence for all oilsands producers. A 'standard of perfection' CNRL has previously denied its negligence in the 2022 bird deaths. At the time, the company argued that it should not be held to a "standard of perfection" in its efforts to protect the birds. The regulator in turn, ruled that CNRL did not take reasonable steps to prevent the deaths by failing to destroy the island before it became a nesting site. Colleen Cassady St. Clair, a University of Alberta biologist and expert in bird deaths in the oilsands, said CNRL should have known that islands in tailings ponds were attractive to birds and posed a risk to passing flocks. St. Clair was the lead researcher of the Research on Avian Protection Project, a three-year study that examined how to better protect birds in Alberta's oilsands after 1,600 died at a Syncrude tailings pond in 2008. She said the industrial hazards to birds have been well understood for decades. "They had lots of warning," she said. "They don't have to be perfect, but they should be trying to absolutely minimize those mortalities. "It's hard to see an argument that they couldn't have anticipated this problem." The case dates back to the spring of 2022 when workers at the mine discovered birds on the island in an area known as Tar River Valley on the north side of the Horizon mine. The island had taken shape the previous spring, at the centre of a tailings pond, due to receding waters and re-emerged the following year. CNRL's photo of the island from their June 7, 2022, notification letter to the AER. Gulls on are visible on the water and on the island. (CNRL) According to the CNRL's formal bird protection protocols, such islands should be destroyed to prevent birds from touching down. But the company failed to act in this case. They considered the island low risk as birds had initially shown no interest. The small stretch of land soon became a nesting and hatching site for colonies of birds. By May 21, 2022, CNRL workers counted a single Canada goose nest and 271 California gull nests along its beaches. The company informed the regulator on June 7, more than two weeks later. By then, CNRL reported that it had installed bird deterrents on the island, including pyrotechnics and rockets. But the hazing efforts were unsuccessful. Each day, the gulls would disperse and land again. Photographs of an adult California gull (left) and juvenile California gull (right) from CNRL's 2019 Bird Protection Plan Report. (AER) On July 12, CNRL reported that between 60 and 70 California gull chicks had been discovered on the island, covered in oil. As the weeks went on, workers kept finding carcasses and gull chicks fouled with bitumen. Predators including wolves and coyotes passed through the shallow water to hunt on the island, feeding on the contaminated flocks and flushing more birds into the toxic waters. The situation continued until Aug. 4, when the surviving chicks were old enough to fly away. According to the regulator, 411 birds died before the island was finally destroyed that September. Even a light oiling can threaten their survival, interfering with their ability to eat, fly and protect themselves from the elements. Soiled birds can become trapped in the thick liquid, often drowning from the weight on their feathers. The toxic slurry found in tailings can not only make the birds sick, it can also prove toxic to other wildlife which consume them. 'Evasion of responsibility' The company argued that, due to the Migratory Bird Convention Act, there was little they could do once the nests were established. St. Clair described that argument as "slippery" and said the findings of the AER investigation were clear. "Many months of inaction is not consistent with an attitude of due diligence," she said. It's hard to fathom why CNRL has launched an appeal and it will erode public confidence in the operator, she said. "I think the public has some tolerance for mistakes, whether it's this industry or any other industry, and less tolerance for evasion of responsibility."
