Abstracts

1. Should the diversion and use of groundwater follow a first-in-time, first-in-right priority
framework as currently exists for surface water in BC or is it appropriate to develop a
different (and possibly improved) governing framework for groundwater?
2. How should existing groundwater users be regulated?
3. How should small groundwater users be regulated?
4. How should diversion and use of saline groundwater found at depth in the Interior
Plains Region of northeast BC be regulated?
The limited state of knowledge of the groundwater resource in BC imposed variable degrees
of uncertainty to answering these important groundwater policy questions. This
paper presents the historical regulatory context and examines the factors, principles, and
reasoning that helped shape the policy outcomes in the WSA. This paper also presents
some practical insights gained in the process of developing the WSA, which may be of
useful consideration by other jurisdictions embarking on developing policies to enhance
sustainable management of their groundwater resource.
320 - Development of Groundwater Policy for Alberta’s Oil Sands
Region
Margaret Klebek
Alberta Environment and Parks, Government of Alberta, Alberta, Canada
One of the main concerns in Alberta’s Oil Sands Region (AOSR) is the potential effect
to groundwater from oils sands projects. To address this, Alberta Environment and Parks
has developed a number of policies to guide stewardship of groundwater during current
and future growth. The policies align with the overall principles and goals of Water for
Life: Alberta’s Strategy for Sustainability and Land Use Framework to manage cumulative
effects to groundwater on a regional basis.
The Groundwater Management Framework (GMF) for the Lower Athabasca Region,
Water Conservation Policy for Upstream Oil and Gas Operations and policies for the
management of non-saline groundwater in direct contact with bitumen and thermally mobilized
constituents around in-situ operations have been completed or are nearing completion.
Further policy development is being considered for protection and management of
groundwater in the Shallow Thermal Area (STA).
The GMF introduces several new mechanisms to achieve the goals of preserving and improving
groundwater quality in the AOSR. It establishes the basis for determining when
levels of specific chemical parameters have been reached (“trigger values”) that could have
an effect on groundwater quality. On the basis of trigger values, the GMF establishes
groundwater quality protection limits that prescribe specific management actions when
limits are exceeded.
The Water Conservation Policy for Upstream Oil and Gas Operations expands upon its
2006 predecessor to include oil sands mining operations in addition to thermal in-situ
operations. The policy strives to minimize the amount of non-saline (fresh) water used
for upstream oil and gas projects by requiring operators to critically evaluate all potential
138 IAH-CNC 2015 WATERLOO CONFERENCE