LEX-FAOC051845

The Act consists of 248 sections divided into 12 Parts: Administration (1); Environmental Assessment Process, Approvals and Registrations (2); Activities Requiring Notice (2.1.); Environmental Appeal Board (3); Release of Substances (4); Conservation and Reclamation (5); Potable Water (7);Hazardous Substances and Pesticides (8);Waste Minimisation, Recycling and Waste Management (9); Enforcement (10); Miscellaneous Provisions (11) Transitional, Consequential, Repeal and Commencement (12).; The Natural Resources coordinating Council is continued as the Sustainable Development Co-ordinating Council. The Co-ordinating Council may coordinate, review and make recommendations to the Minister on interdepartmental matters related to sustainable development and the protection of the environment (sects. 5 and 6). Section 12 outlines powers and duties of the Minister of Environmental Protection with respect to environment protection in Alberta. An Environmental Protection and Enhancement Fund is established under section 28. In addition, there is continued under section 30 an Environmental Protection Security Fund. The purpose of the environmental assessment process is (a) to support the goals of environmental protection and sustainable development, (b) to integrate environmental protection and economic decisions at the earliest stages of planning an activity, (c) to predict the environmental, social, economic and cultural consequences of a proposed activity and to assess plans to mitigate any adverse impacts resulting from the proposed activity, and (d) to provide for the involvement of the public, proponents, the Government and Government agencies in the review of proposed activities (sect. 38). Section 58 prohibits any person to knowingly commence or continue any activity designated by Regulations as requiring an approval or registration unless that person holds the required approval or registration. The Director may not issue an approval or registration of an activity unless he is of the opinion that it complies with rules set out in Division 1 of Part 2. There is established the Environmental Appeal Board under section 83. Where the Director designates a contaminated site, the Director may issue an environmental protection order to a person responsible for the contaminated site (sect. 114).