On April 1, 2026, the GOA announced a new Oil and Gas Conservation Regulation that gives the AER power to enact enforcement measures against oil and gas operators that fail to adequately manage and treat weeds on their wellsites using Reasonable Care and Measures (RCAM) orders.
This regulation, made under the Oil and Gas Conservation Act, makes RCAM orders applicable to the Responsible Energy Development Act and the Weed Control Act. Since the announcement, AGI and the AER hosted a webinar for Agricultural Fieldmen and Assistants on April 28. The new regulation took effect on May 1.
The Government of Alberta (GOA) recently hosted a webinar for rural municipalities to share more information about the new RCAM order procedures to enable weed management compliance. Representatives from Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation (AGI) and the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) presented an overview of the RCAM scope and process and responded to questions. The slides are now available.
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 to proceed with filing an RCAM referral.
The new procedures do not specify a mandated enforcement approach, but an RCAM order enables the AER to use enforcement measures on non-compliant operators. One approach is 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, please visit: Weed and Agricultural Pest Compliance | Alberta Energy Regulator.
For more information, contact RMA’s Policy and Advocacy team at advocacy@rmalberta.com or 825.319.2383.