Alberta Energy Regulator (previously ERCB, previously EUB and ERCB before it was the EUB) 100% financed by oil and gas industry, will be corporate-style, allocate water, including for fracking

Alberta Energy Regulator to Ensure Efficient, Comprehensive Energy Regulation by Middle East North Africa Financial Network, June 17, 2013
(Menafn – Marketwired via COMTEX) –The Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) officially launched today after the Government of Alberta proclaimed the Responsible Energy Development Act, ushering in a new era in energy regulation. The AER brings a new governance structure that will achieve the benefits of strong corporate oversight and independent adjudication of energy applications throughout the hearing process. “This new structure will allow the regulator’s Board of Directors to set the direction for the organization’s business, approve regulatory change, and set performance expectations for the regulator,” said Chair Gerry Protti. “The Alberta Energy Regulator board will operate as a corporate-style board.”

The AER immediately takes on all regulatory functions previously carried out by the Energy Resources Conservation Board and will assume additional responsibilities in the areas of public lands, water, and the environment over the next 12 months. .. The Alberta Energy Regulator ensures the safe, efficient, orderly, and environmentally responsible development of hydrocarbon resources over their entire life cycle. This includes allocating…water resources, managing public lands, and protecting the environment while providing economic benefits for all Albertans. [Emphasis added]

Provincial energy regulator up and running by Colleen Schmidt, June 17, 2013, CTV Calgary
The Alberta Energy Regulator officially launched on Monday and will be responsible for regulating the province’s upstream oil, oilsands, natural gas and coal development. The launch is just the first step towards full implementation of the regulatory agency and officials say additional regulatory functions will added over the next few months. The Alberta Energy Regulator will take on the functions that were previously looked after by the Energy Resources Conservation Board. The AER will assume additional responsibilities in the public lands, water, and the environmental areas over the next 12 months. … AER board members and commissioners were announced last week. The board will take on the governance and general direction of the regulator’s business dealings and the commissioners will conduct hearings and make decisions on energy resource project applications.

Alberta Energy Regulator [AER] directors get down to business with first meeting by AER, june 18, 2013

Calgary, Alberta (June 18, 2013)… The board of directors of the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) met Monday for the first time to ensure that Alberta’s energy resources continue to be developed in a safe, efficient, orderly, and environmentally responsible manner.

The AER officially became Alberta’s primary regulator of oil, oil sands, natural gas, and coal after the Government of Alberta’s proclamation of the Responsible Energy Development Act earlier in the day.

“The Alberta Energy Regulator is overseen by a corporate-style board under an entirely new governance structure,” AER Chair Gerry Protti said. “This structure will help us balance strong corporate oversight while ensuring independent adjudication of energy applications through the hearing process.”

The directors began their work by adopting corporate bylaws and conducting a number of items of business, including creating Audit and Finance, Human Resources and Compensation, Governance, and Regulatory Review committees to set the groundwork for the corporate governance of the new single regulator. The AER also authorized staff to continue to issue approvals and authorizations under the Responsible Energy Development Act and other provincial energy statutes administered by the AER to ensure the seamless continuance of processes such as receiving, reviewing, and processing thousands of energy applications each month and inspecting and enforcing regulatory requirements. The directors also established corporate signing authorities and adopted Directive 031: REDA Energy Cost Claims, which outlines how hearing participants submit cost claims to the AER following conclusion of regulatory hearings.

“These steps create crucial foundational items to the Alberta Energy Regulator,” Protti said. “With a solid organizational base, the AER is ensuring Alberta’s energy resources are developed according to designated rules.”

CEO Jim Ellis outlined how the AER executive team will implement plans to ensure that the AER meets the performance metrics set by the board of directors. Ellis also highlighted a number of operational procedures that will be changed to reflect the new direction of the Alberta Energy Regulator.

The Alberta Energy Regulator ensures the safe, efficient, orderly and environmentally responsible development of hydrocarbon resources over their entire life cycle. This includes allocating and conserving water resources, managing public lands, and protecting the environment while providing economic benefits for all Albertans

FOR BROADCAST USE

The board of directors of the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) met yesterday for the first time to ensure that Alberta’s energy resources continue to be developed in a safe, efficient, orderly, and environmentally responsible manner. The board adopted corporate bylaws, set up a number of committees, adopted signing authorities, delegated decision-making authorities under the various energy resource statutes administered by the AER, and dealt with other matters to ensure the continued processing of energy applications and inspection and enforcement activities.

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For more information, please contact:

Kim Blanchette, AER Communications
Phone: 403-619-9455
E-mail: email hidden; JavaScript is required
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aer

Alberta Energy Regulator [AER] to ensure efficient, comprehensive energy regulation Press Release by the AER, June 17, 2013

Calgary, Alberta (June 17, 2013)…The Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) officially launched today after the Government of Alberta proclaimed the Responsible Energy Development Act, ushering in a new era in energy regulation. The AER brings a new governance structure that will achieve the benefits of strong corporate oversight and independent adjudication of energy applications throughout the hearing process.

“This new structure will allow the regulator’s Board of Directors to set the direction for the organization’s business, approve regulatory change, and set performance expectations for the regulator,” said Chair Gerry Protti. “The Alberta Energy Regulator board will operate as a corporate-style board.” Today’s announcement is the first step in a phased approach towards full implementation of the AER with additional regulatory functions to be added over the coming months.

“We look forward to working with the Government of Alberta to ensure we manage the transition to a new regulator in a manner that is strategic and practical, balancing the need for consistency and regulatory certainty while bringing new environmental regulatory responsibilities into the AER,” said Chief Executive Officer Jim Ellis. “This is an exciting time for energy development in Alberta, and we believe that the Alberta Energy Regulator marks an exciting change that will make a difference in the way we conduct our business and deliver results for Albertans.”

The AER immediately takes on all regulatory functions previously carried out by the Energy Resources Conservation Board and will assume additional responsibilities in the areas of public lands, water, and the environment over the next 12 months.

“Albertans can be assured that the regulator’s highly trained technical staff remain dedicated to public safety, environmental protection, and conservation of our hydrocarbon resources throughout the transition,” Ellis added.

The Alberta Energy Regulator ensures the safe, efficient, orderly, and environmentally responsible development of hydrocarbon resources over their entire life cycle. This includes allocating and conserving water resources, managing public lands, and protecting the environment while providing economic benefits for all Albertans.

FOR BROADCAST USE:
The Alberta Energy Regulator launched today as the first step in a three-phase approach to ensuring strong energy regulations in Alberta. The AER immediately takes on all regulatory functions previously carried out by the Energy Resources Conservation Board and will assume additional responsibilities in the areas of public lands, water, and the environment. These additional functions will be transferred to the AER in the coming year.

– 30 –

For more information, please contact:
Kim Blanchette, AER Communications
Office: 403-476-9378 Mobile : 403-619-9455
E-mail: email hidden; JavaScript is required
Media line : 1-855-474-6356
AERNR-01

Alberta Energy Regulator launches today by Silvia Pikal, June 17, 2013, Beacon News
The Alberta Energy Regulator is responsible for environmental oversight of oil, gas and other energy development, including the administration of penalties for offences. The Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) officially launched on Monday, and will be responsible for environmental oversight of oil, gas and other energy development, including the administration of penalties for offences. Officials say the launch is the first step towards full implementation of the Alberta Energy Regulator, with additional regulatory functions to be added over the coming months. The Alberta Energy Regulator will take on all regulatory functions previously carried out by the Energy Resources Conservation Board, and will assume additional responsibilities in the areas of public lands, water, and the environment over the next 12 months. … Jim Ellis was named CEO of the new Alberta Energy Regulator in April. Ellis served as Alberta’s deputy environment minister between 2008 and 2011. Gerry Protti, founder of the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers, was named chair of the Alberta Energy Regulator earlier this month. … The board of directors will set the direction for the organization’s business, approve regulatory change and set performance expectations for the regulator, and the commissioners will sit on panels, conduct hearings and make decisions on energy resource project applications, reconsiderations, inquires and appeals. [Emphasis added]

[Refer also to:

AEA: Support to the identification of potential risks for the environment and human health arising from hydrocarbons operations involving hydraulic fracturing in Europe A proportion (25% to 100%) of the water used in hydraulic fracturing is not recovered, and consequently this water is lost permanently to re-use, which differs from some other water uses in which water can be recovered and processed for re-use.

Scientists warn that Earth faces severe water shortages within a generation ]

Industry officials and environmental expert appointed to province’s new energy regulator by Sheila Pratt, June 12, 2013, Edmonton Journal
The new board overseeing the energy industry includes experts from the oil and gas, forestry and electricity industries, as well an internationally known environmental expert from Toronto with experience at the United Nations. Three Calgarians are on the board: Cameron Bailey from the oilpatch; rancher David Chalack; and Sheila O’Brien, who has 30 years experience in the energy industry. They will be joined by Edmonton resident Peter Flynn from the electricity sector, and Elizabeth Dowdeswell, a former undersecretary general of the environment for the UN and a former federal assistant deputy minister of environment.

Energy Minister Ken Hughes said in a news release he is pleased with the diversity of the board for the new Alberta Energy Regulator, which will take over from the decades-old Energy Resources Conservation Board next week with the goal of streamlining approval of applications for new oil, gas and coal projects. The new regulator, which officially starts up June 17, will also take over responsibility for handing out environmental permits for new projects and enforcement of provincial environment laws. That job is now done by the environment department. The new board will “ensure our province leads the country and the world in balancing resource growth and our strong environmental commitment,” said Hughes. Board chairman Gerry Protti, also appointed by Hughes, is a founding member of the industry lobby group the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers. CEO Jim Ellis is a former deputy minister in the environment and energy departments.

The new board also includes: small business owner Fred Estlin from Grande Prairie; and Andy Neigel from Athabasca, who has 30 years in the forestry industry and runs Boreal Management Group.

Rachel Notley, New Democratic environment critic, says the new EAR started off with a “serious credibility problem ” when Protti, an industry insider, was appointed as boss. “The new board members have a lot of work to do to overcome that bad start,” said Notley, adding that putting environmental enforcement under the regulator is heading in the wrong direction.

The board appointed five people, four from Calgary and one from Banff, as full-time officers to hear arguments about projects that go to public hearings. Brad McManus, currently acting chair of the ERCB, becomes chief hearing commissioner. The hearing officers are Alex Bolton and Rob McManus, both former ERCB members, Christine Macken, currently a member of the province’s Environment Appeals Board, and Barbara McNeil, chair of the Banff Development Appeal Board. Unlike the ERCB, where board members also doubled as hearing officers, the board of the AER will not preside over public hearings. [Emphasis added]

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