Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act

The Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act prohibits anyone from carrying out activities that may impact the environment in Alberta unless they obtain approval. The Act came into force on September 1, 1993 and carries heavy fines for non-compliance, including the possibility of a $1 million fine and up to two years imprisonment.

The Act is composed of 11 parts (Queen's Printer 2007a):

1. Administration
2. Environmental Assessment Process, Approvals and Registrations
3. Activities Requiring Notice
4. Environmental Appeals Board
5. Release of Substances
6. Conservation and Reclamation
7. Potable Water
8. Hazardous Substances and Pesticides
9. Waste Minimization, Recycling and Waste Management
10. Enforcement
11. Miscellaneous Provisions

At the end of the list is a 'schedule of activities' listing all projects that need to obtain approval under the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act. Overall, the Act outlines what kinds of projects need to obtain approval, how they can obtain approval and specifies laws to do with some of the more common environmental concerns including potable water, waste and hazardous substances.

An important consideration in the province of Alberta is that if an impact assessment is required, according to the Act, then a cumulative effects assessment is also required.