Lower Athabasca Regional Plan

The Alberta government is committed to managing cumulative effects at the regional level. As the first regional plan under the Land-use Framework, the Lower Athabasca Regional Plan identifies and sets resource and environmental management outcomes for air, land, water and biodiversity, and will guide future resource decisions while considering social and economic impacts.

On August 22, 2012, the Government of Alberta approved the Lower Athabasca Regional Plan, which is a product of more than three years of consultations with Albertans, First Nations and experts on social, economic and environmental issues.

The plan sets the stage for strong economic growth in northeast Alberta - home to Alberta's vast oil sands resources - balanced with world-class environmental monitoring.

Below are three management frameworks that outline Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development's role in managing cumulative effects in the region.

  • Air Quality Management Framework
  • Surface Water Quality Management Framework
  • Groundwater Management Framework

These frameworks outline monitoring, evaluation and reporting requirements, set early warning triggers to determine the need for action, and identify what actions may be taken.

The use of management frameworks is a new approach to accomplish cumulative effects management. Management occurs by establishing environmental limits and triggers. Limits in these frameworks are clear boundaries in the system that are not to be exceeded. Triggers are used as warning signals to allow for evaluation, adjustment and innovation on an ongoing basis. This proactive and dynamic management approach will help ensure trends are identified and assessed, regional limits are not exceeded and the air and water remain healthy for the region’s residents and ecosystems.

Read the frameworks in full:

Fact Sheets: