Environmental requirements and updates
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Overview
Indian Oil and Gas Canada (IOGC):
- operates pursuant to the Indian Oil and Gas Act (R.S.C., 1985, C. 1-7) and the Indian Oil and Gas Regulations (SOR/2019-196)
- ensures that provisions of Impact Assessment Act (2019) are met
- uses the Canadian Environmental Quality Guidelines of the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment
- uses modified Alberta reclamation standards
Environmental Review Form application and submission
Environmental Review Form (ERF)
Applicants are required to complete and submit an ERF for oil and gas projects including exploratory licenses, surface leases, and rights-of-way on First Nation lands. IOGC is currently updating the ERF Guide. For further information, assistance, or for a copy of the ERF Guide, please consult our Contact us webpage for the appropriate Environmental Analyst.
Environmental Audit Submission and Timing Requirements Footnote 1
| Type of Audit | First Audit Due Date | Subsequent Audit Due Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Surface lease (OS) | December 31st one (1) growing season after the construction of the Lease | December 31st every five (5) years thereafter
|
| Right of way (RW) | December 31st two (2) growing seasons after the installation of the pipeline | December 31st every ten (10) years thereafter |
Spills and Emergencies
Companies are required to notify IOGC and the First Nation of spills or health-threatening emergencies on First Nation lands. Companies must also notify Health Canada, Environment Canada, and the appropriate provincial government organizations as required.
Companies may be required to submit remediation plans for spills to IOGC and the First Nation and must undertake remediation activities to clean up spills to required standards.
Requirements relating to spills and emergencies are included in the Environmental Protection Terms Letter attached to and forming part of a surface agreement.
Remediation, Reclamation and Surrender of Surface Agreements
Reclamation Application
Companies submitting environmental reports through Alberta Energy Regulator's OneStop application as part of the Alberta Site Rehabilitation Program invoicing requirements are also required to submit these reports to IOGC and the applicable First Nation. Final reclamation applications must also be submitted to IOGC for review and approval and to the applicable First Nation. Under the Indian Oil and Gas Act, IOGC is responsible for oversight and approval of all oil and gas remediation and reclamation work on designated First Nation lands. This applies to similar programs in British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
Abbreviations
- BCR – Band Council Resolution
- ESA – Environmental Site Assessment
- FN – First Nation
- IOGC – Indian Oil and Gas Canada
- RAP – Remediation Action Plan
Description of IOGC Remediation, Reclamation and Surrender Process Flow Chart effective August 1, 2019
Decision Point boxes are in a diamond shape and step process boxes are in rectangular shape.
The process flow chart starts with a phase 1 ESA rectangular step box. An arrow exits this box to a decision diamond that states phase 2 ESA required? A yes and no arrow each exit this box.
If yes then an arrow leads to another diamond decision box which states contamination?
If no then an arrow leads to another rectangular step box which states initiate reclamation planning.
From the contamination? Decision diamond box, there are two arrows exiting the box yes or no.
If yes then an arrow leads to another decision diamond box which states location? There are two arrows exiting this box, two rectangular step boxes, one off lease and one on lease.
From the off lease rectangular step box an arrow exits to another rectangular box which states secure access. An arrow access this box and meets up with the on this arrow which connects with the Guidelines exceeded? Described below.
From the on lease rectangular step box an arrow exits to diamond decision box which states guidelines exceeded?
If no then an arrow leads to another rectangular step box which states initiate reclamation planning.
If yes then an arrow exits the box and goes into a rectangular step box which states RAP process.
From the RAP rectangular step box an arrow exits and leads into a rectangular step box which states RAP developed an approved.
From the RAP developed an approved rectangular step box an arrow exits and leads into a rectangular step box, which states RAP implemented and closure reporting finalized.
An arrow then exits the box and leads into the rectangular step box which states initiate reclamation planning.
An arrow then exits this box and leads into a diamond decision point box which states facilities to be left in place? A yes and no arrow each exit this box.
If yes then an arrow leads to a rectangular step box which states survey and secure BCR from First Nation. An arrow exits this box and leads into the box described below.
If no then an arrow leads to a diamond decision point box which states change in land use? A yes and no arrow each exit this box.
If yes then an arrow leads to rectangular step box which states discuss changes with First Nation and IOGC and secure BCR for First Nation. An arrow exits this box and leads into the box described below.
If no then an arrow leads to a rectangular step box which states initiate reclamation activities.
An arrow leads from the initiate reclamation activities box to a diamond decision box which states reclamation criteria met? A yes and no arrow each exit this box.
If no then an arrow exits and returns to the initiate reclamation activities box.
If yes then an arrow exits this box and leads to diamond decision box which states site likely to pass inspection? A yes and no arrow each exit this box.
If no then an arrow exits and returns to the initiate reclamation activities box.
If yes then and arrow exits and leads to a rectangular step box which states joint reclamation inspection.
An arrow exits this box to a diamond decision point box which states does site pass inspection? A yes and no arrow each exit this box.
If no then an arrow exits and returns to the initiate reclamation activities box.
If yes then an arrow exits to a diamond decision box which states contract holder in default? A yes and no arrow each exit this box.
If yes then an arrow exits to obtain killer step box which states default rectified. And arrow exits and leads to the box describe below.
If no then an arrow exits this box to a rectangular step box which states contract terminated.
Remediation Action Plan Form and Guide
IOGC is currently updating our remediation process and guide. Contact IOGC's Environment Unit to obtain current versions of the Remediation Action Plan Form and Guide.
Additional environment-related information letters
- Updated surface contract holder site closure planning and response timelines (March 2025)
- Application of remediation guidelines and risk-based methodologies (September 2023, updated November 2024)
- Provincial landowner notification requirements and considerations on First Nation lands (January 2020, updated November 2021)