2012 Agricultural Service Board Resolutions

Permit to purchase, keep or sell rats

11(1) The Minister may, on application in writing, issue a permit in the form set out in Form 6 allowing a person who operates a research facility or zoo or an inspector to purchase, keep or sell live rats if the facility where the rats are to be kept meets the minimum standards required by the Minister.

(2) A person shall not purchase, keep or sell live rats unless the person holds a permit issued under subsection (1).

The purpose of this legislation is to prevent the establishment of a pest (rat) infestation in Alberta. Dead pests (rats) pose no risk in this regard and likely can’t be declared a pest at any rate. Pest Surveillance Branch is currently conducting a regulatory review of the Act and following completion of that the regulations. This should be sent to that branch for inclusion with the review so that it is addressed at that time. Legal opinions from Alberta Justice would be required. The finding of dead rats used for reptile food has occurred in the past but this is not a significant problem.

Resolution #2
Promoting Alberta's Rat Free Status
Therefore be it resolved that Alberta's Agricultural Service Boards request
that Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development allocate additional resources to the education of the public on the rat control program that exists in the province.

Response:
Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development
Regulatory Services Division
ARD and specifically RSD has now dedicated one full time employee, Phil Merrill to the new position of “Alberta Rat and Pest Specialist” for the Province effective April 16^th, 2012. This position will be responsible for the “Rat Control Program” and will be dedicated to the coordination, education of the program and related research on infestation control and toxicant use. As such I believe this issue has been or is being addressed.

Resolution #3
Richardson Ground Squirrel Control
Therefore be it resolved that Alberta's Agricultural Service Boards request
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada permanently register 2% Liquid Strychnine for Richardson Ground Squirrel control, until there is a new product proven to be as effective as 2% Liquid Strychnine available to producers.

Response:
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
The responsibility for the registration and regulation of pesticides in Canada falls under the jurisdiction of Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency under the authority of the Pest Control Products Act and Regulations.

It is my understanding that on February 23, 2012, the Pest Management Regulatory Agency granted registration to several 2 percent liquid strychnine concentrate formulations for use to control Richardson’s ground squirrels.

Health Canada
Pest Management Regulatory Agency
The PMRA granted full registration of 2% Liquid Strychnine Concentrate on 23 February 2012. Health Canada is a participant in a working group with stakeholders, including grower groups, provincial extension specialists, researchers and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada to find alternative solutions to the Richardson’s ground squirrel infestation in Alberta. Efforts should continue to ensure that new alternative technologies and integrated pest management strategies are available to users as soon as possible.

Resolution #4
Wild Boar Eradication Initiative
Therefore be it resolved that Alberta's Agricultural Service Boards request
Alberta Agriculture initiate a “Provincial Strategy” for a controlled “Live Trapping Program” run by professional trappers to eradicate Wild Boar as a Pest in Alberta.

Response:
Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development
Regulatory Services Division

Background:

• In 2008, wild boar were declared to be a pest when at large anywhere in Alberta.
• The primary control measure subsequently implemented for the purpose of reducing their numbers, with a view to eventual eradication, was that of a bounty.
• Pursuant to a funding agreement entered into between Agriculture and Rural Development and agricultural service boards (Ag Service Board), a payment of $50 is made to each person who turns in, to the AgService Board, a pair of wild boar ears. To date, payments have been made for just over 400 pairs of ears.

Communication between the Agricultural Fieldman and the local Seed Cleaning Plant is the best way to ensure that mangers and their Boards understand the importance of preventing the spread of Fg in their municipality. The same can also occur with private and mobile seed cleaning plants.

As a last resort, a pest inspector can always go into a local seed cleaning plant, request samples and have them tested for the presence of Fg. If Fg is found, then a notice can be issued to stop the plant from operating until it complies with the notice.

Resolution #7
Herbicide Selection for Noxious Weed Control on Acreages
Therefore be it resolved that Alberta's Agricultural Service Boards request
that Alberta Environment Pesticide Management Branch review the Environmental Code of Practice for Pesticides with the outcome of making additional herbicides available for effective weed control on acreage pastures.

Response:
Alberta Environment and Water
Alberta Environment and Water implemented Section 17 of the Environmental Code of Practice for Pesticides to enable acreage owners to obtain limited access to commercial (available only to certified applicators and farmers) products that had comparable domestic product registrations, such as turf maintenance products. It was not intended to provide broad access to commercial products for a wide spectrum of uses. The control of “noxious” and “prohibited noxious” weeds for range and pastures falls outside of the intent of Section 17.

Large acreage owners have the option to take the Farmer Pesticide Certification Program which will provide them with the knowledge and safety considerations required for using commercial products. Alberta Environment and Water is prepared to review this issue with the Agricultural Service Boards in conjunction with product manufacturers and Health Canada, who have jurisdiction over product registration, safety and label instructions.

Resolution #8
2011 Provincial Enforcement of the Weed Act
Therefore be it resolved that Alberta's Agricultural Service Boards request
the Province of Alberta enhance enforcement measures of the new Alberta Weed Control Act at the retail level, as well as enforcing importation restrictions of weeds and weed seeds from other provinces and countries.

Response:
Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development
Pest Surveillance Branch
The Pest Surveillance Branch (PSB) has for the past three years sent a letter to all retail nurseries and greenhouses in Alberta informing them of the new Weed Control Act and the list of prohibited noxious and noxious weeds. They are informed of their obligations under the Act and asked to not import these plants and to destroy any plants they may have.

As for online retailers and seed catalogues selling into Alberta, the PSB will be sending them a letter asking them to include a comment in their catalogues that plants on Alberta’s prohibited noxious list are illegal to grow in Alberta.

Resolution #9
Requiring labelling of flower seed mixes with all species present
Therefore be it resolved that Alberta's Agricultural Service Boards request
that Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development (AARD) work with CFIA to ensure that labeling requirements pertaining to flower seed and bird seed for feed mixes are enforced, and further, that Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development, under the Weed Control Act, require all noxious and prohibited noxious weeds be reported on flower seed mixes.

Response:
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
The Seeds Act and Regulations set out standards and labeling requirements for seed sold in Canada. The Weed Seeds Order classifies weed species of concern within a number of categories, including a list of prohibited noxious weed species. The Seeds Regulations require all seed in Canada to be free from prohibited noxious weed seeds.

Flower seed mixtures are required to be labelled with the name of each kind or species of seed comprising the mixture. Furthermore, all seed, including wildflower seed mixtures, must be accompanied by a seed analysis certificate and an import declaration at the time of import.

The purity of seed sold in Canada and its compliance with the Seeds Regulations are monitored through marketplace sampling and testing and through label reviews, as well as through import conformity assessments and inspections for imported seed.

The Canada Food Inspection Agency’s Seed Section would be pleased to work with Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development to address any concerns it may have regarding industry compliance with labelling requirements for flower seed mixtures.

I trust that this information satisfies the requests from the Agricultural Service Board. Thank you for your interest in these matters.

Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development
Pest Surveillance Branch
As mentioned in your Resolution, flower seed packages are regulated by the Federal Seeds Act and Seeds Regulation. The Act does not require seed packages under 50 grams to be labelled for contents.

Agriculture and Rural Development will consult with CFIA to discuss this issue and attempt to come up with a solution acceptable to both parties.

Resolution #10
Request for ARD to take a more forceful approach to the selling of noxious and prohibited noxious weeds at greenhouses and plant retailers
Therefore be it resolved that Alberta's Agricultural Service Boards request
that Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development continue to show leadership and direction through developing a suitable forceful, ongoing educational program that will ensure the onus for compliance with the Weed Control Act rests with the greenhouses and other plant retailers, not with the ASBs to ensure control

Further be it resolved
that Alberta's Agricultural Service Boards request
that the Regulatory Services Division of AARD participate in enforcing the prohibition of the sale of noxious and prohibited noxious weeds, as they do with the Provincial Rat Control Program.

Response:
Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development
Pest Surveillance Branch
As mentioned in Resolution 8, the Pest Surveillance Branch (PSB) has for the past three years sent a letter to all retail nurseries and greenhouses in Alberta informing them of the new Weed Control Act (WCA) and the list of prohibited noxious and noxious weeds. They are informed of their obligations under the Act and asked to not import or sell these plants and to destroy any plants they may have on hand.

Enforcement of the WCA is delegated to the local authority and as such it is their responsibility to ensure that any greenhouses and plant retailers operating within their municipal boundaries are complying with the Act. If assistance is required in dealing with a retailer, then the PSB will assist as needed.

Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development
Regulatory Services Division
It is our understanding that the Pest Surveillance Branch (PSB) has also been sent this request and we feel that they are in a better position to respond to this resolution. PSB is responsible for ensuring that the Weed Control Act is properly enforced in the province. Regulatory Services Division (RSD) investigators could possibly provide assistance into investigations under the Weed Control Act when requested. RSD’s responsibility is for vertebrate pests designated under the Agricultural Pests Act and associated regulation.

Resolution #11
Cessation of potable water use by oil and gas industry
Therefore be it resolved that Alberta's Agricultural Service Boards request
the Government of Alberta implement an immediate reduction schedule on the use of fresh water to the oil and gas industry for the hydro fracturing and water injection process, in all areas of Alberta.

Response:
Alberta Environment and Water
Alberta Environment and Water has a policy document entitled “Water Conservation and Allocation Policy for Oilfield Injection (2006)” which addresses water conservation for enhanced oil recovery.

The objective of this policy is to improve the conservation and protection of Alberta’s water, and to reduce or eliminate the use of fresh water resources for oil field injection.
This policy is being reviewed in 2012 for updating and inclusion of water allocation and conservation issues for all upstream oil and gas water uses (shale gas, tight oil, coalbed methane, thermal in-situ recovery, etc.) and to address water use in multi-stage hydraulic fracturing.

Industry is already moving towards proportionately more use of saline waters for oil field injection, particularly in areas of limited fresh water supply. The 2012 policy review, in conjunction with the natural resource ministries review of the existing regulatory framework for unconventional oil and gas, and ongoing technological improvements, will provide the context for better water management planning to minimize, if not eliminate, the use of fresh water for oil field injection.

Alberta Energy
The government’s Provincial Energy Strategy asserts that Alberta’s energy future will properly account for cumulative effects on the environment and impacts on water. The strategy commits to developing and deploying technologies for water use efficiency, groundwater protection, and beneficial re-use. Industry has already taken action and is moving toward using proportionately more saline water than fresh water in oil field injection, particularly in areas where fresh water supply is limited.

Further, Alberta Environment and Water’s 2006 policy document, Water Conservation and Allocation Policy for Oilfield Injection, supports the conservation and management of water. The policy’s objective is to reduce or eliminate the use of fresh water resources in oilfield injection. A review of this policy in 2012 will update it to include water allocation and conservation issues for upstream oil and gas water uses (i.e., shale gas, tight oil, coalbed methane, thermal in-situ recovery, etc.). The review will also address water use in multi-stage hydraulic fracturing.

Alberta’s current regulatory framework for oil and gas development provides a solid foundation for reducing fresh water use. A review of the existing regulatory framework for unconventional oil and gas, as well as ongoing technological improvements used by industry, will allow for stronger water management planning. In summary, government and industry are already taking steps toward reducing or eliminating the use of fresh water in oilfield injection.

Resolution #12 - DEFEATED AT THE AGRICULTURAL SERVICE BOARD PROVINCIAL CONFERENCE - FEBRUARY 2012

Sale of Sustainable Resource Development lease lands
Therefore be it resolved that Alberta's Agricultural Service Boards request
that Sustainable Resource Development review their current land lease / sale policies to ensure that long term disposition holders be allowed to purchase leased lands at prices assessed on unimproved values, and that they are not disadvantaged by a lack of recognition for development costs and improvements on leased land, by the requirement for competition in the sale process. All leaseholders should be compensated for improvement done to the lease incurred at their own expense.

Resolution #13
Liability on Sustainable Resource Development lease lands
Therefore be it resolved that Alberta's Agricultural Service Boards request
that the Province of Alberta (Sustainable Resource Development) review their policies concerning liability on leased lands, to ensure that leaseholders are not held liable for any injury or property damage resulting from the activities of recreational users while on leased land. Further, the Province should hold all liability on leased land where access is granted at the discretion of the Province, not the leaseholder.

Response:
Alberta Sustainable Resource Development
The Recreational Access Regulation (RAR) was developed to balance the needs of grazing and farm development leaseholders who need to protect their leased land and livestock while allowing recreational users reasonable access to their leased land. Under the regulation leaseholders may deny permission for recreational access under certain circumstances.

The department recommends that agricultural leaseholders obtain their own legal advice regarding their legal risks and liability arising from regulated recreational access on agricultural leases.

In Alberta, liability for recreational users on agricultural dispositions is governed by the Occupier's Liability Act. There are two levels of "duty of care" - that which a landowner owes to an invited "visitor" and that which the landowner owes to a "trespasser." Under the Act, when a recreational user accesses an agricultural disposition, they enter at their own risk because they have the same legal protections as a trespasser under the Act.

Respect for all users of public land would suggest that leaseholders should identify hazards on the land that are known to them. For example, the leaseholder may want to notify all users of any hidden or obscured dangers such as excavations, cutbanks, and unconventional fences that may be on the property.

It is sound practice that agricultural producers carry liability insurance for both private and public land. Leaseholders are encouraged to consult their insurance and legal advisors to address their specific situation.

For more information on the Occupier's Liability Act or the Recreational Access Regulations please visit http://www.qp.alberta.ca/570.cfm

Resolution #14 - DEFEATED AT THE AGRICULTURAL SERVICE BOARD PROVINCIAL CONFERENCE - FEBRUARY 2012
Short term solid manure storage
Therefore be it resolved that Alberta's Agricultural Service Boards request
that Sustainable Resource Development (SRD) amend the Agricultural Operations Practices Act (AOPA) to make the identification of short term solid manure storage sites an application and approval process for new, expanding and existing CFOs.

Resolution #15
Recycling program for agricultural plastics
Therefore be it resolved that Alberta's Agricultural Service Boards request
That Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development establish a program to recycle agricultural plastics similar to the Empty Pesticide Container Recycling Program.

Response:
Alberta Environment and Water/Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development
NOTE: Response was the same from both departments
Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development (ARD) and Alberta Environment and Water (AEW) recognize that agricultural plastic use is increasing, especially grain bags, and concern over managing it as waste is rising in Alberta. Both ministries are working jointly to scope the issue and collect data on how agricultural plastics are managed in Alberta to help inform future policy options on the issue. A preferred model or approach to waste management has not been identified and both departments agree that more Alberta-specific data is needed before any recommendations are made. ARD is funding the cost of two surveys to collect data, which will be completed by fall 2012, targeting agricultural producers and municipal waste authorities. It is too soon to tell if the Empty Pesticide Container Recycling Program is the best option for Alberta. Alberta’s program for pesticide containers is a voluntary initiative funded by industry and managed by CleanFarms.

In addition to the joint work with AEW, ARD is independently working with various municipalities to coordinate agricultural plastic roundup days to educate producers about the processes of preparing plastics for recycling.

A recycling facility currently exists in Hussar, Alberta that accepts sheet plastic and a market exists in the United States for twine. As government works to collect information on the issue, AEW and ARD encourage agricultural producers to use these current recycling markets (when and where appropriate) to dispose of their waste agricultural plastic.

Resolution #16
Funding for ARECA Member groups
Therefore be it resolved that Alberta's Agricultural Service Boards request
that the Government of Alberta provide stable and appropriate funding to the ARECA member groups to allow them to maintain staff and pursue longer term strategic planning.

Response:
Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development
The Agriculture Opportunity Fund (AOF) has provided stable funding to ARECA member organizations since 2003 when the fund was established. The AOF has $1.5 million dollars it allocates annually to ARECA member organizations. ARECA member organizations have also been able to access an additional $450,000 in environmental component funding for the past two years bringing the total annual funding to $1.95 million dollars. These funds are approved on a three year basis. ARECA member organizations are able to plan their activities on a three year cycle because the base grant and environmental component dollars do not change over the course of the three year grant agreement.

Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development (ARD) appreciates the contribution that ARECA member organizations make to the province and has recognized their contribution by providing them with additional funding. Additional funding that has been provided in the past six years:

• $1.5 million dollar grant to support capital funding
• $700,000 AESA grant to support environmental projects
• $300,000 Extension grant to support improvements in how ARECA and its members deliver extension programming.
• $1.3 million dollars to enhance their capacity to deliver on all their programs. Specifically to help maintain staff through compensation, training and program delivery.
• $700,000 to supplement the first $1.3 million dollars to increase capacity and program delivery.

Emergent Resolution #1
Agricultural Pest Act Review
Therefore be it resolved that Alberta's Agricultural Service Boards request
that the Agricultural Pests Act review process include the option of adding different Government Ministries to administer parts of the Act not covered by Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development. In the event that this change is implemented, non-agricultural pests including terrestrial, aquatic and semi aquatic pests and their administration will fall under Sustainable Resource Development or Alberta Environment.

Response:
Alberta Environment and Water
Alberta Environment and Water recognizes that there are risks to Alberta’s natural resources and infrastructure from non-agricultural invasive species (primarily aquatic and semi-aquatic pests), and that these risks are not dealt with under the current Agricultural Pests Act. Discussions around appropriate regulatory frameworks for agricultural and non-agricultural pests and invasive species should continue between the Agricultural Service Boards, the Interdepartmental Invasive Alien Species Working Group, and interested stakeholders. These discussions would help to address concerns around roles and responsibilities, resourcing, and implementation for successful prevention and/or management of all agricultural and non-agricultural pest species.

Alberta Sustainable Resource Development
There is currently no stand alone legislation that covers the specific control and management of invasive species in Alberta. This means that other existing legislation, like the Agricultural Pests Act should be examined for its potential to provide support for measures that may be used to control and manage some invasive species.

This resolution may be associated with concerns about other invasive species that have been discussed at meetings of the Interdepartmental Invasive Alien Species Working Group. The membership of this working group has discussed possibilities to address a broader range of invasive species using provincial laws such as the Agriculture Pests Act or through the creation of new legislation.

Sustainable Resource Development suggests that new invasive species listings or legislation to address invasive species would need to consider the impact of the listing(s), including which agency/agencies would be responsible for the legislation.

Alberta Transportation
As a member of the Interdepartmental Invasive Alien Working Group, Alberta Transportation concurs that there is a gap in how invasive species are currently managed in Alberta.

We agree with the resolution that a review of the Agricultural Pests Act should include the option of adding different government ministries to administer parts of the Agricultural Pests Act not covered by Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development. This would help address non-agricultural pests, including terrestrial, aquatic and sem-aquatic invasive species.

Alberta Transportation recommends one refinement to the resolution. The resolution states that the government ministry requesting the addition of a pest of the Act shall have the responsibility for enforcing the Act for that pest. We propose rather that each department managing land should be responsible for enforcing the Act for any pest that occurs on that land, regardless of which department requested the addition of that species to the Act.

The addition of non-agricultural invasive species to the Agricultural Pests Act would strengthen the effectiveness of the control of all invasive species in Alberta, and is supported by Alberta Transportation.

Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development
Agriculture and Rural Development (ARD) is consulting with both Sustainable Resource Development and Environment and Water on this option as the APA is being reviewed. Although advancement has been slow, some progress has occurred and ARD will continue to push hard for this option to be included in the revised Act.

Emergent Resolution #2
Compound 1080 Review by Pest Management Regulatory Agency
Therefore be it resolved that Alberta's Agricultural Service Boards request
that the Provincial ASB Committee lobby PMRA to maintain the current registration and usages of Compound 1080 for its use in the reduction of coyote predation in Alberta.

Further be it resolved
that Agriculture and Rural Development's Minister and Regulatory Services Division contact PMRA regarding Special Review REV2011-06, supporting their present registration of Compound 1080.

Response:
Pest Management Regulatory Agency
In consideration of the comments received speaking to the critical need to maintain access to predator control products, the PMRA will consider any additional information you may wish to submit that is relevant to the scope of this special review of compound 1080. If you plan to submit additional information, please include a summary description of the supporting materials and an index if multiple documents are provided. A copy of all supporting documentation must also be attached to the submission.

Please submit any additional information for the review of compound 1080 as one package no later than May 31, 2012 and address correspondence to the attention of:
Margherita Conti, Director General, Re-evaluation Management Directorate, Pest Management Regulatory Agency, 2720 Riverside Drive, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0K9.

Please note that once the special review of compound 1080 is completed, a proposed decision document will be available for public consultation on Health Canada’s website before a final decision is made. The Agricultural Services Board is encouraged to submit any comments they may have regarding the proposed decision during this consultation period as well.

Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development
RSD was advised of this Special Review on December 21, 2011. Upon notification RSD has contacted PMRA and determined the process this review will take. The attached Briefing Note has been submitted and RSD will continue to monitor this matter as it unfolds. Once a decision is made PMRA will seek input from the registrants (ARD and Sask Environment.

Briefing Note:

• On December 19, 2011, Alberta was notified that Health Canada’s Pest
• Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) was initiating a “Special Review” on Compound 10-80. This review was triggered at the request of a member of the general public pertaining to the risk associated to non-target species when 10-80 is used as bait.
• Agriculture and Rural Development (ARD) and the Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment are the only two registrants for this toxicant in Canada.
• ARD uses this toxicant as a last resort in our Coyote Predation Control Program and only when all other management controls have failed.
• ARD’s registered formulations consist of a solid tablet (used in bait) and a liquid contained within a Toxic Collar (used on livestock).
• The Coyote Predation Control Program is administered by ARD and delivered through the County’s Agricultural Fieldman.
• PMRA advises that they will review current mitigation measures relating to potential exposure of non-target species when using these baits to determine whether the environmental risks continue to be acceptable. Once the review has been completed, a proposed decision will be available for public consultation before a final decision is made.
• This notification has been posted on the PMRA website and has come to the attention of the Alberta Association of Agricultural Fieldmen (AAAF), who have indicated that they will be preparing an emergent resolution supporting continued use of this product. This resolution will be brought forward at the Agricultural Service Board Convention at the end of January 2012.

• ARD monitor this review and should it lead to public consultation, submit supporting documentation for continued registration and use.

Thank you for your 2011 resolution regarding AFSC seeding intention dates and your request to change the annual deadline to May 20 for Peace Region producers.

The April 30^th deadline to apply for crop insurance or make changes to elected options is in place to spread the risk of insuring equally between the clients and AFSC. This deadline is set before clients can predict with some certainty what the growing conditions will be. If the deadline was moved out further, many clients would be able to evaluate the quality of their crop stand and may decide to accept the risk themselves or insure depending on the loss potential. By committing to insure early in the year, the clients and AFSC share the risk more equally and because of this, premium rate volatility is minimized. AFSC has actually considered making this date earlier; but for now, it remains at April 30^th for annual crops.

AFSC's seeding date data shows that on average 93.4 percent of crops are seeded in the province after April 30. In southern Alberta, the majority of seeding is completed after May 1^st with only 14% of acres seeded by April 30 . Clients in other parts of the province have no distinct advantage over other clients in the Peace Region in deciding their crop insurance options as on average 6.6% of acres provincially are seeded by April 30^th (in the Peace Region 4.8% of acres are seeded by April 30^th).

AFSC's data shows that over 64% of acres in the Peace Region have been seeded by May 20^th. Extending the annual deadline to May 20^th for Peace Region producers would increase the risk of clients deciding to insure based on loss potential in that area. Having two different deadlines in the province would create less sharing of risk among clients and premium rates would need to increase with a later deadline to reflect the added risk.
AFSC will continue to be flexible with crop seeding deadlines if inclement weather delays spring seeding. In the past two years, AFSC has extended the seeding deadline for many crops when wet weather prevented planting.

I recognize the importance of the Peace Region to AFSC and to crop production in the province. Thank you for bringing this issue forward for consideration.

Regional resolution - Special Areas water supply project
Therefore be it resolved that Alberta's Agricultural Service Boards request
that the Southern Region ASBs express full support for the Special Areas Water Supply Project, including all off stream water storage, during the Environmental Assessment process.

Response:
Alberta Environment and Water
Several Alberta ministries are actively working on developing the Special Areas Water Supply Project. The project is currently at the engineering and environmental stage, conducting the preparation of the information required to move the project through the Environmental Assessment phase.

Once the terms of reference for the Environmental Impact Assessment report have been completed, the report will be prepared for technical review by Alberta Environment and Water, other provincial ministries, the Natural Resources Conservation Board, and the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency. Following completion of the technical review, Alberta Environment and Water will submit the report to the Natural Resources Conservation Board, who will make the determination about the project’s status with consideration for the social, economic and environmental implications resulting from the project.

The support of the provincial Agricultural Service Boards for this project reflects the widely held value of this initiative to the Special Areas.