RED DEER – Alberta’s energy regulator wants to put on a friendlier public face.
“At one time the regulator would set policy without any regard for the stakeholders,” Marilyn Craig of the Energy Resources Conservation Board told the Alberta Synergy meeting in Red Deer Oct. 28.
“That has changed.”
Craig said increased exploration and drilling have increased the number of public questions the ERCB receives about water and soil protection, land values and environmental impacts.
Those questions prompted the growth of landowner groups across the province, which want to learn more about the industry and how to deal with energy companies. Alberta Synergy represents more than 60 groups that work on issues with energy and utility companies.
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In response, the ERCB established a community relations division that works with the public, aboriginal groups, local health authorities, disaster services and municipalities.
As well, it is developing educational programs that it hopes to see included in the school curriculum so students can learn more about the energy industry and how it affects the province.
Crystal Cassidy, who heads community relations for the ERCB, said her department has hired more employees to work in field offices across the province.
They will answer questions, hear complaints and offer dispute resolution.
Cassidy said the ERCB can help smaller companies that don’t have community relations departments, but its primary job remains as a regulator to ensure companies follow provincial laws and requirements.
“We don’t regulate attitude. We regulate compliance,” Cassidy said.
However, it can coach a company on how to be a better neighbour, she added.
She said the board’s dispute resolution program, which started in 2001, can also help work through disputes rather than allow conflicts to end in a hearing.
Recent regulatory changes allow the ERCB to tell a company about public concerns over a proposal before a development application is made, which gives the company time to work through concerns before it draws up plans that may raise objections.
A common complaint from the public is dealing with land agents who are often the first contact landowners have with an energy company planning to drill on their property.
Cassidy said the board is working with the provincial land agents association to rewrite its employee manual because some of what they are being taught is out of date.
As well, the board plans to become more involved with health authorities and is joining watershed councils.
Once committees are established for the provincial land use framework, they will also be involved.
