AOPA - Information and Resources

Below are publications and factsheets that provide information on the Agricultural Operation Practices Act (AOPA) and its associated regulations.
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AOPA Reference Guide - provides agricultural operations in Alberta with information on:

How the Agricultural Operation Practices Act (AOPA) applies to various agricultural operations that handle manure.
The requirements and regulations under AOPA that deal with siting; manure storage, collection and application; feeding & bedding sites; livestock corrals; soil testing and analysis; and record keeping.
The issues related to ongoing compliance and enforcement.

AOPA Environmental Standards for Alberta's Livestock Industry Brochure - provides a quick overview of the provincial standards for the livestock industry and manure management in Alberta.

Intended for the general public, it includes a brief introduction to the history, key contacts, definitions, points and questions regarding the AOPA and Regulations. A list of additional resources is also included.

The Standard - Environmental Standards for Alberta's Livestock Industry Factsheets - a fact sheet series about manure management legislation.

The Application of the Minimum Distance Separation (MDS) for Siting Confined Feeding Operations in Alberta - Under the Agricultural Operation Practices Act, the MDS is the method for siting all new or expanding confined feeding operations (CFOs). It is a setback or buffer established between a confined feeding operation and nearby neighbouring residence.

AOPA - Where Neighbours Fit into the Process - Information for neighbours of existing, expanding or proposed CFOs

Manure Managment

Manure Characteristics and Land Base Code
The Manure Characteristics and Land Base Code contains manure production volumes for various livestock types to help you determine if you are required to keep manure management records. For more details about this document, click here.

Record Keeping Forms - click here for blank forms or for the ManureTracker.ca

AOPA sets out manure management standards for all agricultural operations in Alberta. Under AOPA, confined feeding operations (CFOs) and anyone who handles 500 tonnes or more per year of manure must keep records for a minimum of five years. The following types of activities require record keeping: manure production, manure transfer and manure application.

Minimum Setbacks for Manure Applications - a visual reference to the minimum setbacks for manure application based on AOPA and its regulations.

Manure Application Equipment and Road Use Requirements - Hauling manure on Alberta roads requires operators to pay close attention to highway safety, road infrastructure and the environment. This factsheet will help farmers and custom manure applicators understand the impacts of manure hauling equipment on roads and bridges and the legal requirements for road access. As well as it provides some ideas on how to minimize wear and tear on our rural infrastructure.

Utilizing Highway Right of Ways and Culverts to Accommodate Manure Draglines - For dragline or direct-flow manure application systems to reach fields, potentially miles from a liquid manure storage, the hoses may have to run in or along a road ditch (right-of-way) or through culverts to cross roads. Roads can be crossed by using existing culverts or may require the installation of a culvert or pipe to create a crossing. If you would like to use road right of ways, you need to obtain permission from the responsible jurisdiction, whether it be the municipality or the Province.

Catch Basin Design and Management - information for designing, maintaining and managing a catch basin at a CFO.

Technical Guidelines

This Technical Guideline Listing (Agdex 096-100) provides guidance for AOPA regulations.
Groundwater:

Leak Detection Groundwater Monitoring Parameters (Agdex 096-52 and replaces Leak Detection and CFOs: TG 2004-01)
Leak Detection Groundwater Sampling (Agdex 096-53)
Monitoring Well Construction, Installation and Development (Agdex 096-51)
Reclamation of Groundwater Monitoring Wells (Agdex 096-50)
Reclamation of Groundwater Monitoring Wells Worksheet (Agdex 096-50)

Manure Application:

Definitions for Frozen and Snow-covered Land (Agdex 096-70)

Manure Storage Facilities and Manure Collection Areas:

Closure of Manure Storage Facilities and Manure Collection Areas (Agdex 096-90)
Closure of Manure Storage Facilities and Manure Collection Areas Worksheet (Agdex 096-90)
Temporary Suspension of Manure Storage Facilities (Agdex 096-91)
Non-Engineered Concrete Liners for Manure Collection and Storage Areas (Agdex 096-93 and replaces Concrete Manure Liner Guidelines: TG 2004-02)
Determining Equivalent Protective Layers and Constructed Liners (Agdex 096-61)
Identifying Manure Storage Facilities and Manure Collection Areas at Confined Feeding Operations (Agdex 096-94)

Permitting:

Calculator for Determining Livestock Capacity of Operations as They Existed on January 1, 2002 (Agdex 096-81)

Back to the AOPA Legislation Home Page
www.agriculture.alberta.ca/aopa

For more information about the content of this document, contact Deanne Madsen.
This document is maintained by Laura Thygesen.
This information published to the web on September 10, 2014.
Last Reviewed/Revised on September 18, 2018.