EAP Updates

The Emergency Order for the Protection of the Greater Sage-grouse under the federal Species at Risk Act (SARA) comes into force on February 18, 2014.

For more information on the Order, please contact

• Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment Canada
  Tel: 1 800 668-6767
  Email: Enviroinfo@ec.gc.ca

The Emergency Order can be viewed at:

• Species at Risk Public Registry

Due to the implementation of the Order, the Landscape Analysis Tool (LAT) will be updated to include a new Greater Sage-Grouse Emergency Order layer allowing the client to identify when any proposed activity falls within that area covered under the Order. By making the applicant aware of activities falling within this zone, they will be able to review the requirements of the Order and ensure any application submitted to the regulating bodies does not contravene the prohibitions set out in the Order.

Based on the update to the LAT, any EAP application with LAT Reports generated on or before March 14, 2014, that have not already been successfully submitted as part of a successful EAP disposition application will be automatically rejected by EDS on March 15, 2014.

The LAT is being modified to reflect an addition of a Sage Grouse Emergency Order Layer. Note that although the LAT Reports with the new federal layer will take effect as of March 15, 2014, there is an expectation that companies must not contravene the prohibitions set out in the Emergency Order as of February 18th, as indicated in the Order.

A new release of the EAP Integrated Standards and Guidelines (IS&G) will occur on December 1, 2013. Any LAT Reports generated on or before November 30 that have not already been successfully submitted with an application for an EAP disposition will be automatically rejected by EDS on December 1, 2013. The Integrated Standards and Guidelines (IS&G) and LAT documents are being modified to reflect use of the EAP by both ESRD and the Alberta Energy Regulator. There are no new Approval Standards or Operating Conditions in this release.

In addition, the EAP application supplements have been updated to reflect use by both ESRD and AER. The changes to the updated supplement forms now dated December 1, 2013, were minimal and the format mirrors the previous supplement versions. As of December 1, 2013, the updated supplements must be used for EAP applications to result in an acceptable EAP application.

Supplements incorporating the clearance of Reservations and Notations have been delayed until June 7 to address consistency issues raised by clients during the development phase. Once system testing on the forms is complete, ESRD will post fillable pdf forms on the website.

As of June 7th, EDS will only accept these new versions of the Site and Installations, Access and Pipeline supplements for all EAP applications. Use of previous versions will result in the application being rejected. Please ensure you use the updated forms.

Changes to the Supplement forms include:

• Some prior content has been removed for consistency and clarity around form completion,

• Purpose codes have been added to the Sites and Installations supplement to better guide applicant around applicable questions within the supplement form,

• Part D: Source of Water - was removed from the Sites and Installations Supplement,

• Added within the Pipeline supplement the ability to identify if a project is a multi-pipe project,

• Updated Site Sensitivity section to align with updated standards and conditions,

• The Reservation/Notation section of the forms has been reformatted to provide clarity to the applicants and rigor around the proper review of reservation/notations and higher level plans that interact with proposed activities.

Any questions regarding the documents should be directed by email to Glen.Gache@gov.ab.ca.

Supplements incorporating the clearance of Reservations and Notations have been delayed until June 1, 2013.  Applicants can continue to use the current Supplements.  The use of new Supplements starting June 1 will not affect any LAT Reports run in the interim period.

The Integrated Standards and Guidelines posted on April 13 has been modified in two key areas:

• Approval Standard (Water) 100.4.9 applies to Class I and II roads only at this time (removed Class III)
• Approval Standards (Sharp-tailed Grouse) 100.9.1.6.3, 100.9.1.6.4 have been modified for clarity, and 100.9.1.6.7 has been added for clarity

The previous Integrated Standards and Guidelines has been renamed “Version 2”.  Please use this version for future reference post April 1, 2013.

The following information is being provided to clarify requirements related to the April 1, 2013 release of the Integrated Standards and Guidelines:

• Sumps related to activities already within the scope of EAP, will be approved under the EAP process after April 1, 2013. Sumps for projects out of scope of the EAP (e.g., thermal in situ) must continue to use the EFR process even after April 1, 2013.
• New Supplements incorporating the clearance of Reservations and Notations have been delayed until May 1, 2013.  Applicants can continue to use the current Supplements.  The use of new Supplements starting May 1 will not affect any LAT Reports run in the interim period.
• A revised EAP Manual will be posted which incorporates the new Supplements requirements. Given the delay of the Supplements until May 1, 2013, this should be considered information only at this time.

The April 1, 2013 release of the Integrated Standards and Guidelines (IS&G) has been posted for information purposes.  Any LAT Reports using the July 16, 2012 IS&G will be rejected by the Electronic Disposition System after April 1, 2013.

• Integrated Standards and Guidelines

The EAP Manual has been updated to include the scope and other process changes announced throughout the 2012 year. The manual is a consolidation of current direction and does not provide any new direction.

Effective April 1, 2013, the caribou range map provided in "A Woodland Caribou Policy forAlberta" (June 2011) will be adopted as the land-use referral map for all land-use applications.

Approvals made under the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act (EPEA) using the old Caribou Zone map will continue to use that Caribou Zone map for the associated land-use dispositions until such time as the EPEA approval is renewed following expiry, or an amendment is requested by the operator or required by the Director.

• Wildlife Sensitivity Maps - Caribou Landuse Referral Boundary Map

Projects that have received an EPEA approval using the updatedCaribouRangemap will continue to use the old Caribou Zone map for land-use applications until March 31, 2013. 

Beginning April 1, 2013 projects that have received an EPEA approval using the updatedCaribouRangemap, and all other land use applications, will use the updatedCaribouRangemap for required disposition applications.

Clients are urged to plan activities for the 2013 season, post April 1, 2013, with a full understanding of the new land-use referral map. The 2013 Caribou Protection Plans requirements will be based on these new boundaries.

Contact Information:

Questions can be sent to the department Information Center at 1-877-944-0313 or email

• ESRD.InfoCenter@gov.ab.ca

More Information:

• A Woodland Caribou Policy for Alberta
• Fisheries & Wildlife Management Area Contacts