Reclamation/restoration practices
Content related to: Reclamation/restoration practices
Tree Species Mapping Around Reclaimed Oil and Gas Wells Sites Using Hyperspectral and Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) Remote Sensing
Investigation of Microbial Community Response During Oil Sands Reclamation via Lipid and Carbon Isotope Analyses
Investigation of Microbial Community Response During Oil Sands Reclamation via Lipid and Carbon Isotope Analyses
Restoration Ecology: Aiding and Abetting Secondary Succession on Abandoned Peat Mines in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, Canada
Restoration Ecology: Aiding and Abetting Secondary Succession on Abandoned Peat Mines in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, Canada
PTAC Evaluation of Reclamation Practices on Forested Upland and Peatland Well Sites
In general, regulators expect that disturbed sites in the boreal forest will undergo complete reclamation (recontouring, soil replacement and revegetation) with the goal of returning the site to pre-disturbance condition and land use (equivalent land capability). Legislation and policies provide opportunities to vary from these expectations with written approval from a specified decision maker (Director, Regulator, Land Manager). Alberta’s Wetland Policy requires replacement of wetlands lost due to industrial development, but recognizes that the relative value of a wetland (used to calculate replacement ratios) is based, in part, on the relative abundance of wetlands in the region. In areas of high abundance (such as northeast Alberta) and low historical loss, the concept of relative abundance will facilitate a considered approach to wetland management, balancing environmental, social, and economic priorities in the execution of management decisions.
The two specific instances of relevance to this project where a regulatory decision is needed are: (1) a request for a variance based on a site having natural vegetation encroachment rather than complete reclamation; and, (2) a request to leave well pads in peatlands in place.