The present Regulations is made under the Environment Protection and Enhancement Act. Section 2 of the above-mentioned Regulation establishes the Oil Sands Environmental Monitoring Programme consisting of the Joint Canada/Alberta Oil Sands Monitoring Implementation Programme, established by Ministerial Order 25/2013 made by the Minister pursuant to section 8 of the Government Organization Act. This Programme strengthens environmental monitoring programmes for air, water, land and biodiversity in the oil sands region.

The present Rules are made under the Responsible Energy Development Act. In particular, the Rules establish that private surface agreements between landowners and energy companies operating on their property can now be registered with the Alberta Energy Regulator’s new Private Surface Agreements Registry (PSAR). Created as part of the Alberta Energy Regulator’s mandate to oversee energy development in the province. The Rules allow landowners to request the Regulator’s intervention, if they feel a company is not meeting a term or condition of a registered agreement.

The present Act lays down provisions relating to the constitution of special areas in the Province of Alberta. For the purpose of the present Act “public land” means land belonging to the Crown in right of Alberta and under the administration of the Minister and “special area” means a special area constituted under this Act. Section 16 rules that no public land situated in a special area shall be sold without the consent of the Minister. Section 29 establishes the Special Areas Board which administrate the special areas. The text consists of 30 sections.