Environmental Law Centre

Auditor General Looks at the Management of Alberta's Water Supply

The Environmental Law Centre's Laura Bowman posts a brief on the Auditor General of Albera's recently released review of Alberta Environment's managment of the water supply.

Among other items, the Auditor General concluded in the April 2010 report that one of Alberta Environment’s weaknesses is compliance. It was noted that although there are many known cases of non-compliance with Water Act authorizations, these are not acted upon by approval authorities. The report also noted that without adequate monitoring of activities in the field, Environment cannot assess the level of non-compliance with Water Act authorizations. Read More

Water Transfers Require Due Process

Edmonton, AB – Last month a public notice appeared on the Alberta Environment website that indicated that the Eastern Irrigation District (EID) had proposed changes to the purpose of its water license from irrigation only to a variety of purposes including “municipal, agriculture, commercial, industrial, habitat enhancement and recreation.”

The Environmental Law Centre (ELC), upon considering the application and relevant legislation, found several issues that need attention and – for the first time in over 25 years of operation – issued a Statement of Concern to Alberta Environment. Read More

Materials from Greenhouse Gas Roundup Part II Webinar available for download

If you’re like many Albertans, you’re probably asking yourself some pretty important questions about climate change. The most overdue questions may be about soil not oil. For example:

  • How can agricultural producers participate in the carbon market?
  • Will international climate change agreements influence land use activities?
  • Could more land users be regulated for emissions reduction as seen in the energy sector?

The Environmental Law Centre has made materials from their recent "Greenhouse Gas Roundup Part II: Agriculture Webinar"available for download. You can watch the presentation below, or on YouTube and visit the ELC website to download the slides.

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Webinar: Greenhouse Gas Roundup — Part II: Agriculture

Apr 14 2010 - 6:00pm to 7:00pm

If you're like many Albertans, you're probably asking yourself some pretty important questions about climate change.  The most overdue questions may be about soil not oil. For example:

  • How can agricultural producers participate in the carbon market?
  • Will international climate change agreements influence land use activities?
  • Could more land users be regulated for emissions reduction as seen in the energy sector?

Whether you're a producer, a regulated emitter, or just a concerned citizen, you will find value in this second installment of Greenhouse Gas Roundup — a three-part webinar series led by ELC Staff Counsel Adam Driedzic. No legal training is required and there are no dumb questions. Read More

Webinar: Public Participation in Environmental Decision-Making in Alberta — Part III

Feb 18 2010 - 7:00pm to 8:00pm

Is someone proposing an industrial or other significant project in your community? How are environmental impact assessments conducted in Alberta? How can you get involved in the environmental impact assessment process?

The short answer is that Alberta Environment regulates environmental aspects of many activities under the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act. Some of these are subject to mandatory environmental impact assessments and there are a variety of ways for the public to participate. Read More

Webinar: Public Participation in Environmental Decision-Making in Alberta — Part II

Feb 11 2010 - 7:00pm to 8:00pm

The Regional Director of Alberta Environment has authorized an activity to take place in your area. You disagree with the approach taken by the Director. What recourse do you have?

Join Jason Unger, Staff Counsel with the Environmental Law Centre, to discuss appeals of the Director's decision to the Alberta Environmental Appeals Board. Read More

New Publication: Consistency and Accountability in Implementing Watershed Plans in Alberta

The Environmental Law Centre's Consistency and Accountability in Implementing Watershed Plans in Alberta: A jurisdictional review and recommendations for reform is a jurisdictional review focused on comparing law and policy approaches to implementation of collaboratively produced and approved watershed management plans. The review identifies central issues that must be dealt with in a policy framework for implementation of plans.

This publication can be downloaded for free from the Materials Available to Download section of the ELC website. Read More

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