Environmental Law Centre

ELC Comments on Public Lands & Wind Power Regulation

AEN — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 19:54:26 +0000

The Environmental Law Centre has posted its comments on Bill 202: Public Lands (Grasslands Preservation) Amendment Act, 2012 and the Alberta Utilities Commission's Wind Power Regulatory Process Review.

ELC comments on Proposed Recovery Strategy for Woodland Caribou

AEN — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 18:27:22 +0000

Environmental Law Centre

The Environmental Law Centre has posted their comments on Recovery Strategy for Woodland Caribou (Rangifer terandus caribou) Boreal Population, In Canada to the ELC website.

ELC comments on Recovery Strategy for Woodland Caribou (Rangifer terandus caribou) Boreal Population, In Canada

Property rights & environmental protection: Conflict or confluence (Webinar)

AEN — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 18:46:05 +0000

Environmental Law Centre

18 Jan 2012 - 12:00 - 13:00

What does our legal history have to say about our property rights? When do we move from confluence to conflict in reaching environmental objectives on our land? Is there a place for the “public interest” on private property?

The Alberta Government has recently struck a task force to consult with landowners regarding property rights. Undoubtedly this is in response to concerns raised around the impact of the Alberta Land Stewardship Act (and other laws) on a landowner’s property rights.

This webinar will discuss property rights, environmental outcomes and ALSA in a legal context. It is an updated version of a webinar presented early in 2011 and is intended to inform the debate around property rights and planning. The webinar will touch on issues of relevance to the property rights task force and undoubtedly the next provincial election.

Join Jason Unger, Staff Counsel, on Wednesday, Jan. 18, 12:00 noon - 1:00 pm for this informative session.

Click here to register.

Registration fee is $20, but a limited number of subsidized registrations are available for individuals and organizations who cannot afford the registration fee. Contact Leah with any questions about the event or how to register.

Thank you for your attention and response. We hope you'll join us on January 18th!

Sincerely,

Leah Orr
Environmental Law Centre
lorr [at] elc [dot] ab [dot] ca
780-424-5099

Source: Environmental Law Centre

Environmental Law Centre News Brief on Administrative Law

AEN — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 18:30:20 +0000

Environmental Law Centre

The latest issue of the Environmental Law Centre's News Brief is a primer on "administrative law":

Ever wondered who governs the government? Need to know how to challenge a decision made by an administrative board (like the ERCB, for example)? If so, the new issue of News Brief - Vol. 26 No.4 - is a must-read.

Download the latest News Brief from the ELC website

Alberta Land Stewardship Act: Digging Deeper (Webinar)

AEN — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 20:06:24 +0000

Environmental Law Centre

23 Nov 2011 - 12:00 - 13:00

The Alberta Land Stewardship Act (ALSA), which provides the legal framework for the province’s new land use planning and management system, has been in effect for two years. During that time, a first regional plan has been released in draft form, with a second soon to follow, and the first ALSA regulations have been enacted.

ALSA has also been criticized extensively in relation to anticipated effects on property rights, compensation and limitations on legal rights. Premier Redford recently directed suspension of its implementation pending review and potential amendment.

Join ELC Executive Director Cindy Chiasson on Wednesday, Nov. 23, 12:00 noon – 1:00 pm for an update on ALSA, its implementation and its possible future.

Click here to register.

Please note that there is a $75.00 registration fee for this webinar. There are, however, a limited number of subsidized registrations available for individuals and organizations who cannot afford the registration fee. Contact Leah at lorr [at] elc [dot] ab [dot] ca with any questions about the event or how to register.

Source: Environmental Law Centre

Alberta Utilities Commission fails to protect public interest with final coal plant approval

AEN — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 18:52:22 +0000

Pembina Institute

Ecojustice

10 Aug 2011

CALGARY — Today's final decision by the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC) to approve a coal plant expansion proposed by Maxim Power Corp. represents a serious failure by the AUC to safeguard the public interest that could undermine upcoming federal greenhouse gas regulations, according to two of Canada's leading environmental groups.

Ecojustice and the Pembina Institute are considering their options in light of today's final approval. The two organizations recently filed a court challenge to appeal the AUC's interim approval of this plant, an approval blatantly timed to attempt to beat the deadline of future federal greenhouse gas regulations on coal-fired power (see background section below for more information).

Upon granting the interim approval for the Maxim project, the AUC indicated that it would issue a final approval "with reasons and any necessary conditions in due course."

But the decision issued today contains insufficient justification for the project. It also sets no conditions to address the plant's substantial greenhouse gas pollution.

"After helping this coal plant to beat the federal deadline, the AUC has now also loosened the standard for greenhouse gas pollution in Alberta," said Chris Severson-Baker, managing director of the Pembina Institute. "Approvals issued a decade ago included a requirement that the companies offset the plant emissions down to the level of a natural gas power plant. Today's decision is a 10-year step backward for the AUC and the province of Alberta."

When then-environment minister Jim Prentice announced his intention to adopt federal greenhouse gas regulations on coal-fired electricity that would take effect on July 1, 2015, he tried to allay concerns about the delayed implementation of the regulations by stating that "We will guard against any rush to build non-compliant coal plants in the interim."

"This is precisely the 'rush-to-build' scenario Minister Prentice anticipated, and promised to prevent," Severson-Baker said. "It's now up to Environment Minister Peter Kent to keep the federal government's promise and to ensure the AUC's approval doesn't undermine the pending federal coal regulations — benefitting one company at the expense of all Canadians."

"This final decision fails to provide any insight into the AUC's rush to issue the interim decision at the end of June," said Ecojustice lawyer Barry Robinson. "One can only assume that it was the AUC's intent to assist Maxim in avoiding the pending federal regulations. It's difficult to understand how that can be in the interest of all Albertans."

Robinson said that Ecojustice and Pembina are reviewing the final decision in more detail and will make a decision with respect to further appeals in the coming days.

-30-

For more information, please contact:

Barry Robinson
Staff lawyer, Ecojustice
403-830-2032
Chris Severson-Baker
Managing director, the Pembina Institute  
403-899-7423

Background

About the Pembina Institute-Ecojustice court challenge

In a June 7 letter to the AUC, Maxim asked the commission to forego a hearing and issue an approval by June 30 for a proposed 500 MW supercritical coal generator expansion of its existing Milner facility.

The AUC granted interim approval without a public hearing on June 30, noting Maxim's argument that it needed this quick approval to build its plant by July 1, 2015 — the deadline to avoid being subject to new federal regulations limiting greenhouse gas emissions from coal-fired electricity.

Further background on the AUC's decision to approve Maxim Power's new coal-fired power plant is available in this blog post by the Pembina Institute.

The Pembina Institute's letter to Minister Kent requesting federal action to stop the Maxim Power coal plant expansion is available online.

About coal power in Alberta and the proposed federal regulations

No new coal plants have been approved in Alberta for a decade. For the last two plants to receive approvals, the AUC (then called the Alberta Energy and Utilities Board) imposed environmental conditions on the plant operations, including a requirement to cut greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 50 per cent for the life of the projects.

If the federal government's proposed greenhouse gas regulations for coal require real onsite reductions in emissions, Maxim's greenhouse gas pollution could be nearly cut in half if it were to comply with the federal standards. This would have a greenhouse gas benefit of preventing about 1.5 million tonnes of emissions each year for the project's 45-year lifespan — the equivalent of taking 300,000 new vehicles off the road.

In contrast, if Maxim Power is able to evade the proposed federal regulations, it could earn itself a 45-year free pass to emit greenhouse gas pollution.

Source: Ecojustice

ELC News Brief Vol. 26 No. 2

AEN — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 21:37:41 +0000

Environmental Law Centre

ELC News Brief Vol. 26 No. 2 is now available to view or download from the Environmental Law Centre website. The issue's theme is Alberta's South Saskatchewan region.

Grasslands Management
Recreation & Water
Water Transfers
Contaminated Land Regulation

Source: Environmental Law Centre

Nuclear Power Regulation in Alberta and Saskatchewan

AEN — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 16:59:39 +0000

Environmental Law Centre

The Environmental Law Centre has made available the slides from their recent webinar "Nuclear Power Regulation in Alberta and Saskatchewan".

View or download from the Environmental Law Centre

Nuclear Power - How is it Regulated? (Webinar)

Mon, 27 Jun 2011 17:26:16 +0000

Environmental Law Centre

4 Jul 2011 - 12:00 - 13:00

Are you wondering how nuclear power facilities are regulated in Canada? Are you confused about how provincial and federal environmental laws apply to nuclear power facilities? Join Laura Bowman, Staff Counsel, for a discussion of how nuclear power facilities are regulated in Canada and how Alberta and Saskatchewan laws may be applied to nuclear power proposals. This is a FREE webinar, funded by the Alberta and Saskatchewan Law Foundations. Click on the link below to RSVP. Thank you for your attention and response. We hope you'll join us on July 4th! Sincerely, Leah Orr Environmental Law Centre lorr [at] elc [dot] ab [dot] ca The ELC is a registered charity.

Nuclear Power - How is it Regulated?

Please donate!

Webinar: Nuclear Power - How is it regulated?

AEN — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 21:19:30 +0000

Environmental Law Centre

4 Jul 2011 - 12:00 - 13:00

Are you wondering how nuclear power facilities are regulated in Canada? Are you confused about how provincial and federal environmental laws apply to nuclear power facilities?

Join Laura Bowman, Staff Counsel, for a discussion of how nuclear power facilities are regulated in Canada and how Alberta and Saskatchewan laws may be applied to nuclear power proposals.

This is a free webinar, funded by the Alberta and Saskatchewan Law Foundations.

RSVP for this webinar

AEN Groups weigh in on the proposed Lower Athabasca Regional Plan

AEN — Mon, 30 May 2011 16:43:23 +0000

As the consultation period on the Government of Alberta's proposed Lower Athabasca Regional Plan comes to a close— submissions are due June 6, 2011— AEN member groups have weighed in on the proposed plan, regulations, and frameworks.

In a recent op-ed, the Pembina Institute's Jennifer Grant states that:

…the current draft plan does more to defend the interests of oilsands developers than it does to protect the quality of Alberta's environment.

Grant points to Pembina's recent report "Solving the Puzzle: Environmental Responsibility in the Oilsands" (pdf) for some policy recommendations, and concludes that:

There is still time for Alberta to get it right and produce a world-class land-use plan for the Lower Athabasca by ensuring the final draft gets the stamp of approval from independent scientific experts at arms' length from the Alberta government and industry.

In their analysis of the plan, Ecojustice describes it as "woefully inadequate" and suggest that it "will not adequately protect the region against the cumulative effects of industrial development." According to Ecojustice's Barry Robinson:

The plan’s management framework is riddled with significant gaps and it gives far too much discretion to government decision-makers. Until those gaps are addressed and a better regulatory system is installed, the Alberta government shouldn’t approve any further oilsands developments in the area.

The Environmental Law Cente has also posted its comments and recommendations on the plan and related regulations and frameworks.

Source: Pembina Institute

Source: Ecojustice

Source: Environmental Law Centre

ELC Comments on the Recovery Strategy for the Sprague’s Pipit

AEN — Wed, 04 May 2011 23:23:30 +0000

The Environmental Law Centre has posted its comments on the Proposed Partial Identification of Sprague’s Pipit Critical Habitat in Alberta and Saskatchewan.

Source: Environmental Law Centre

ELC Brief on Bill 10, Alberta Land Stewardship Amendment Act, 2011

AEN — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 17:22:37 +0000

Environmental Law Centre

The Environmental Law Centre has posted their comments on Bill 10, the Alberta Land Stewardship Amendment Act. Download or view their brief on the ELC website.

While the ELC has consistently supported both the Land-use Framework and ALSA as necessary steps towards a strong integrated, binding land use planning system for Alberta, we have as consistently raised our concerns regarding the limited rights for public participation and appeal within this new system and the broad discretion given to government with little accountability. Bill 10 has not eased our concerns on these points.

Source: Environmental Law Centre

Environmental Law Centre

ELC Comments on Public Lands & Wind Power Regulation

ELC comments on Proposed Recovery Strategy for Woodland Caribou

Property rights & environmental protection: Conflict or confluence (Webinar)

Environmental Law Centre News Brief on Administrative Law

Alberta Land Stewardship Act: Digging Deeper (Webinar)

Alberta Utilities Commission fails to protect public interest with final coal plant approval

For more information, please contact​:

Background

About the Pembina Institute-Ecojustice court challenge

About coal power in Alberta and the proposed federal regulations

ELC News Brief Vol. 26 No. 2

Contents

Nuclear Power Regulation in Alberta and Saskatchewan

Nuclear Power - How is it Regulated? (Webinar)

Webinar: Nuclear Power - How is it regulated?

AEN Groups weigh in on the proposed Lower Athabasca Regional Plan

ELC Comments on the Recovery Strategy for the Sprague’s Pipit

ELC Brief on Bill 10, Alberta Land Stewardship Amendment Act, 2011

For more information, please contact: