News & Announcements

Government plan fails to protect lower Athabasca River when most needed

New water management framework leaves river exposed to unacceptable risk

EDMONTON — The lower Athabasca River will continue to be exposed to significant risks under the Surface Water Quantity Management Framework for the Lower Athabasca River released today by the Governments of Alberta and Canada. Read More

Postponed Major New Energy Lease Sales A Good Step for Endangered Alberta Mountain Caribou

Today the Alberta government postponed a major auction of new oil and gas leases on 21,000 hectares (212 square kilometers) within the endangered Redrock Prairie Creek mountain woodland caribou range. Alberta Wilderness Association (AWA) welcomes this decision. AWA calls on the Alberta government to defer further energy lease sales in endangered caribou ranges until effective rules are in place to protect and recover their habitat. Read More

Alberta Steps Up Fracking-Caused Earthquake Oversight

On February 19, the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) ordered oil and gas operators in west central Alberta to stop operations if their fracking or wastewater disposal activities cause earthquakes of magnitude 4 or greater, as was recorded twice in January 2015. AER also increased requirements for companies’ earthquake monitoring and response plans. Alberta Wilderness Association (AWA) welcomes this move to better manage some of the risks that intensive fracking activity poses to Alberta’s foothills. Read More

Alberta Peace River Dam Project Cancelled By TransAlta

On January 16, TransAlta Corporation withdrew its application to the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC) for a 9 year extension of the approved construction date of its Dunvegan Hydroelectric Project, citing substantial information requests from stakeholders, a potentially long and costly hearing process, and unfavourable project economics. Alberta Wilderness Association (AWA) welcomes the withdrawal of the 100 MW hydro power project as positive news for local residents and the Peace’s aquatic and river valley ecosystem. Read More

Alberta’s Caribou under Growing Threat: CPAWS’ Annual Caribou Report

EDMONTON — In its second annual review of governments' efforts to conserve Canada's boreal caribou, CPAWS (the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society) finds that threats from industrial development to boreal woodland caribou have continued to increase while conservation and restoration efforts have shown little progress across the country. Read More

Pages

Subscribe to News & Announcements