This release was issued under a previous government.

The orders, under the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act, the Public Lands Act and the Water Act, were issued to Edson-based Jade Oilfield Maintenance Company Ltd. and its two directors.

The parties operated a 30-hectare gravel pit that spanned both private and public lands. They neither obtained nor applied for an authorization to open, operate or reclaim a gravel pit.

Incident details

  • In 2015, Environment and Parks staff observed signs of aggregate operations, including excavation of surface and subsurface materials on private land, a loader and gravel truck actively hauling aggregate and three constructed drainage ditches.
  • In August 2015, Environment and Parks staff advised the parties that they must obtain a registration for the pit under the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act to authorize all construction, operation and reclamation on private land, all applicable approvals under the Water Act and a surface material lease under the Public Lands Act to authorize operations on public land.
  • In May 2017, the parties were advised that no further activities were to be conducted at the pit until a registration was obtained. In June 2017, Environment and Parks staff observed active and ongoing gravel pit activities being conducted and there are no authorizations to date.

Terms of the Enforcement Orders

Under the orders, the responsible parties must:

  • Cease immediately all unauthorized activity on private and public land.
  • Prevent immediately all earthen material that leaves public and private land from, among other things, coming into contact with the bed, shore, and water of any water body.
  • Submit detailed site assessments of both the public and private land signed and stamped by a qualified professional by July 31, 2018.
  • Ensure the assessments include detailed descriptions of all areas of the public and private land that has been disturbed by the construction or operation of the pit, including detailed descriptions of soils, vegetation and terrain with off-site control sample comparisons.
  • Submit by June 30, 2018 a written remedial plan that includes, among other requirements, a detailed plan to return the entire area from which vegetation was removed to pre-disturbance conditions, rendering ineffective the three drainage ditches constructed on site.