The Government of Alberta is holding a webinar for rural municipalities to share more information about the new RCAM procedures to enable weeds management compliance. Elected Officials and CAOs are encouraged to attend the webinar where representatives from Agriculture & Irrigation (AGI) as well as the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) will be present to inform attendees about the changes and respond to any questions.
The webinar will be held on Wednesday June 17th from 1:30 pm –to 3:00 pm. Attendees may access the meeting on the webinar date at this link.
Information about the new RCAM procedures
On April 1, 2026, the Government of Alberta announced a new Oil and Gas Conservation Regulation that will give the AER the power to enact enforcement measures against Oil and Gas operators that fail to adequately manage and treat weeds on their wellsites.
This regulation, made under the Oil and Gas Conservation Act, makes Reasonable Care and Measures Orders (RCAM) applicable to the Responsible Energy Development Act and the Weed Control Act. Since the announcement, AGI and the AER have hosted a webinar for Agricultural Fieldmen and Assistants on April 28th and the new regulation took effect on May 1st.
RCAM orders are meant to function as a final measure once municipal enforcement tools such as weed notices have been exhausted. From there, municipalities or AGI can submit a referral on the AER’s website. Municipalities are not required to have incurred weed control costs in order to proceed with filing an RCAM referral.
RCAM referral criteria
The RCAM referral has specific criteria and referrals submitted by municipalities or AGI must include the following information:
- Verification and evidence of AER-regulated wellsite
- Documented evidence of non-compliance with municipal enforcement
- Documentation and evidence of infestation risk
- Documentation and evidence of infestation impacts
- Documented evidence of licensee wellsite obstruction or refusal to cooperate
Enforcement measures
The new procedures do not specify a mandated enforcement approach, but an RCAM provides the ability for the AER to use enforcement measures on non-compliant operators. One method is by escalation through the AER’s Compliance Assurance Program, which includes orders, administrative sanctions, fees, penalties and prosecution. Some of these enforcement measures could include operating license restrictions or suspensions.
For more information, contact RMA’s Policy and Advocacy Team at advocacy@rmalberta.com or 825.319.2383.