Directive 56

The Responsible Energy Development Act came into effect June 17, 2013. This Act established the Alberta Energy Regulators (AER) allowing the regulatory system to become more efficient. The mandate is to “provide for the efficient, safe, orderly, and environmentally responsible development of energy resources in Alberta”. The Responsible Energy Development act is a procedural manual on how to file a license application, and regulatory documents on the license application process. The act also give the definition of a “natural water body” as any location where water flows or is present, whether the flow or the presence of water is continuous, intermittent or occurs only during a flood.

This includes:

• The bed and shore of a river, stream, lake, creek, lagoon, swamp, marsh, slough, muskeg, and other natural drainage such as ephemeral draws, wetlands, riparian areas, floodplains, fens, bogs, coulees and rills.