Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act
(View Act)

Since its inception in 1971, Alberta Environment (AENV) was responsible for a large body of environmental legislation. In AENV's early years, a period of rapid economic growth, this legislation served Alberta well. However, as the public's desire to be more directly involved in decisions affecting the environment grew, a new regulatory framework, incorporating and building upon previous legislation, was developed. F ollowing extensive public consultation, the EPEA became law on June 26, 1992, and came into effect on September 1, 1993.

One of the EPEA's cornerstones is the guarantee of public participation in decisions affecting the environment. This public involvement includes increased access to information, participation in the Environmental Assessment and Approval Processes and the right to appeal certain decisions, as appropriate.

Under EPEA legislation, those who operate or propose developments must accept certain environmental responsibilities. The EPEA also establishes a legislated process for environmental assessments. This process ensures potential environmental impacts are identified early in the planning stages.

The approval process acts as an early warning system by identifying and preventing potential problems before a project proceeds. As a further safeguard, approval conditions detail specific operating requirements all projects must meet. Regular inspections and monitoring ensure projects comply with stringent environmental standards during and after their operation. Projects that do not comply are subject to enforcement action, which may include penalties of up to $1 million in fines and two years in jail.