Bill creates environmental monitoring agency

Bill 31, Protecting Alberta’s Environment Act, was introduced in the Legislature by Environment and Sustainable Resource Development Minister Diana McQueen the day after the Legislature resumed sitting on Oct. 28. The bill creates the Alberta Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting Agency, which is to be in operation by early 2014.  AMERA is tasked with providing data on the condition of Alberta’s environment, specifically air, land, water, and biodiversity, with the information to be used to develop the province’s natural resources. Initially, the arm’s-length agency will be responsible for work currently done in the oil sands area under the Joint Oil Sands Monitoring plan. Eventually, AMERA will be responsible for province-wide environmental monitoring, evaluation, and reporting as land use plans are implemented. Oil companies have committed to funding AMERA at $50 million over three years, but other financial commitments to the agency are not clear.