SUNDRE - The Alberta Energy Regulator's (AER) decision to suspend some environmental monitoring of the province’s oilpatch during the COVID-19 pandemic won’t impact anyone’s health or animal welfare, says Jason Nixon, Environmental and Parks minister and Sundre-area MLA.
Critics say the move sets a dangerous precedent and is politically motivated.
In a recently released bulletin, the AER said it has found it “necessary and appropriate to balance the need for monitoring of environmental conditions with the need to ensure public safety and safety of essential workers during this public health emergency.”
The change includes the suspension of “all ground water monitoring requirements under the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act approvals with the exception of any monitoring that is necessary to protect human health and ecological receptors” and “surface water testing and analysis with the exception of surface water releases to the environment.”
In comments provided to The Albertan, Nixon said: “While some requirements have been temporarily suspended, protecting the environment and public safety remains the highest priority of the regulator. The AER won't be making any changes that affect human health, including affects to drinking water, or animal or plant life.
“The AER has physical distancing protocols in place and continues to regularly monitor and inspect energy sites to ensure companies are following the regulator’s requirements and working safely."
Companies must immediately report emergencies, including incidents, notifications, contraventions, and releases that have or might have the potential to impact public safety or the environment, he said.
“Requirements for water quality monitoring at all industrial runoff points remain in place,” he said. “All wildlife deterrents and mitigations remain in place, including on-site wildlife reporting, timing restriction for sensitive wildlife periods, and the BearSmart program.”
Nixon is the UCP MLA for Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House-Sundre.
The official Opposition NDP says suspending monitoring is a risky move that is all about the political agenda of the Kenney government.
“Let’s be clear, this has nothing to do with COVID-19,” said MLA Martin Schmidt, NDP environment critic. “This is a sneaky and underhanded attempt by Jason Kenney and his UCP government to push their outdated and extreme ideological agenda forward under the shadow of a pandemic.
“This will have disastrous effects on health. That includes the health of Albertans, our environment, and our economy.”
The AER oversees resource development in the province.
