The Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) has released revised editions of Directive 071: Emergency Preparedness and Response and Manual 026, along with new emergency management forms. These revised editions are not yet in effect; the February 2023 versions remain current until required rule amendments are finalized. Between July and November 2024, the AER conducted public and stakeholder engagement as part of developing the final version. RMA participated in the engagement on Directive 071. While some of RMA’s input was included in the final version, the revised directive does not address RMA’s recommendation that would require municipal engagement and relationship building before an emergency event.
What Has Changed
The revised directive introduces several updates that the AER states seek to expand and strengthen emergency preparedness requirements across Alberta’s energy sectors:
- The directive now applies to operations regulated under six Acts, including oil and gas, pipelines, coal, geothermal, and mineral resource development.
- All approval holders must maintain an emergency management program and use the incident command system.
- Operators are now required to conduct hazard identification and consequence analysis for their operations.
What This Means for Rural Municipalities
RMA members should anticipate several practical impacts:
- A significant increase in the number of Emergency Response Plans (ERPs) being developed for energy activities that previously did not require one.
- Municipalities may see more operators reaching out to share emergency‑related information.
- The revised directive does not introduce new regulatory responsibilities for municipalities.
RMA Advocacy
During consultation, RMA emphasized the need for mandatory municipal engagement during ERP development so that rural municipalities receive timely, accurate information needed to protect their communities. This recommendation was not adopted; the revised directive requires operators to contact municipalities only during an emergency, not during planning.
RMA also recommended that the AER commit to reviewing and retaining ERP documents to ensure they remain accessible during emergency situations, particularly when municipal offices are evacuated. This addition was not included in the revised directive.
RMA will continue to advocate predictable, proactive engagement and improved engagement with municipalities in planning emergency events.
Next Steps for Members
- Engage with local oil and gas operators to discuss emergency preparedness expectations and information‑sharing.
- Review internal procedures for receiving, updating, and managing ERPs.
- Monitor upcoming AER training and information sessions on the revised directive implementation.
RMA will continue to monitor implementation and advocate for the needs and capacities of rural municipalities.
Sahaj Kaur
Policy Advisor
780.721.1752
sahaj@rmalberta.com
Warren Noga
Manager of Policy and Research
825.319.2285
warren@rmalberta.com