ERCB Collaborative Land Pilot Initiative

An ERCB Collaborative Land Pilot is an early engagement approach used within select regions of heightened oil and gas development in the province. Led by the ERCB, it is a practical means of addressing community concerns prior to companies entering the formal application process. The approach is designed to benefit both industry and members of the public who live and operate in a specified area. It is currently being tested in a pilot phase.

A pilot brings together multiple stakeholders that have an interest in a specifically defined area either because they live or work in the area. It is designed to address issues and provide those in a particular community direct input into how oil and gas development should occur within their community.

The approach involves several stakeholder groups. It produces proposals for operational and regulatory level solutions to issues raised by the local community. The process takes between three to five months to complete.

As the process is led by the ERCB, it is important to note that the ERCB has a legal obligation to remain within its jurisdiction. Large policy issues or broad questions on whether oil and gas development should occur within a specific area are not issues that the approach will address. Such issues are the decision of the Alberta Government.

The Collaborative Land Pilot Approach

There are three main steps within a ERCB Collaborative Land Pilot.

1. Hold an initial public meeting within the area. The goal of this meeting is to;
   
   • explain the process,
     
   • gain a list of public concerns related to how oil and gas development could occur in the area, and
     
   • select three to ten local residents to represent the community on a working team.
     
     
2. Establish a working team made up of the public representatives selected at the public meeting, two to four industry representatives, three to four ERCB representatives, county representatives, and other stakeholder groups of relevance (for example other government organizations and non-governmental groups). This team, led by the ERCB, will produce recommended solutions to the concerns raised by the community within a timeline of 8 to 12 weeks. If agreement cannot be reached, the ERCB will offer reasonable options for consideration by the public and industry stakeholders.
   
   
3. A second open public meeting will present the team's recommended solutions back to the community. After broad community input, the recommended solutions will be provided to the ERCB Board for consideration. Accepted recommendations will be implemented and considered in all future energy applications within the area.