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Part of Environmental monitoring, reporting and compliance

Compliance Inspection Program

This program ensures facilities meet the standards set by the Alberta government.

Overview

This program helps ensure that facilities meet the requirements of their Alberta government approvals or registrations, designed to protect Alberta's natural resources and environment from the possible adverse effects of facility operations.

The program empowers department inspectors to review and inspect all aspects of any facility's approval or registration, in one visit. The review and inspection can include taking samples of soil, groundwater and effluent and of air emissions at their source. The focus is on identifying and correcting areas of non-compliance. Significant non-compliance can result in enforcement action.

Inspections

Inspections are under the direction of the department's regional Enforcement and Monitoring managers. Each region's annual compliance inspection program is strategically developed and consistent with all other regions.

Inspections are designed to identify and correct non-compliance. Whenever possible, inspectors emphasize prevention and education.

Most inspections are unannounced, to help ensure the program's effectiveness and credibility.

The department assigns all facilities a priority rating based on their potential to cause an adverse effect, their compliance history, environmental performance and the time elapsed since their last inspection.

Companies with greater potential to cause an adverse effect or a history of non-compliance can expect more frequent inspections. Likewise, good environmental performance is rewarded with less frequent inspections.

Inspection steps

Inspections generally involve:

  1. A meeting with facility personnel to explain the purpose and plan behind the inspection.
  2. The inspection proper, with inspectors pointing out areas of non-compliance.
  3. Possible sampling of air, effluent, soil, waste or groundwater.
  4. A post-inspection meeting with facility representative(s) to discuss results, any non-compliance and follow-up requirements.

Soon after an inspection, the department sends the facility a report. In cases involving significant non-compliance, the report is accompanied by a Letter of Non-Compliance, indicating areas of non-compliance and requesting a written explanation of how the situation was, or will be, corrected. Follow-up inspections ensure that appropriate measures have been taken. Failure to take the requested actions can result in enforcement action.

For more information on the compliance and inspection program, call your regional office at the number below (for toll free access anywhere in Alberta, first dial 310-0000).

Contact

Edmonton

Phone: 780-427-7617
Fax: 780-427-7824

Address:
Twin Atria Building
111 4999 98 Avenue
Edmonton, Alberta  T6B 2X3

Red Deer

Phone: 403-340-7052
Fax: 780-340-5022

Address:
#304 Provincial Building
4920 51 Street
Red Deer, Alberta  T4N 6K8

Calgary

Phone: 403-297-5959
Fax: 403-297-6069

Address:
#303 Deerfoot Square Building
2938 11 Street NE
Calgary, Alberta  T2E 7L7