“Notice of Contamination” is a submission intent in the OneStop record of site condition module. It is designed to help AER-regulated parties meet release reporting requirements under the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act (specifically section 110, “Duty to Report”) and the Release Reporting Regulation (specifically section 4, “Written Report”).
See information under “Remedial Measures” on the Remediation Regulation Administration webpage for scenarios where a person responsible knows or becomes aware of a substance release (e.g., a current loss of containment event or contamination related to a site’s operational history). When determining whether a situation must be reported to the AER, we expect industry to take a precautionary approach, meaning if you are uncertain, report it.
If you become aware of an unreported released substance (i.e., contamination) for which you believe you are not responsible (e.g., you are a member of the public or an affected third party),
- attempt to make the person or company you believe is responsible aware of the situation by contacting them, if you are able, and
- notify the AER about the situation.
To notify the AER about a situation related to energy development or its impact on the environment, please call our Energy and Environmental 24-hour Response Line at 1-800-222-6514. Further information is available on our File a Complaint webpage.
The OneStop RoSC notice of contamination may be used by responsible persons for unreported, lower-risk substance releases that are not related to an ongoing incident; the 24-hour Energy and Environmental Response Line at 1-800-222-6514 may also be used.
For all other cases, industry must report substance releases by calling the 24-hour Energy and Environmental Response Line at 1-800-222-6514.
Reporting a substance release via a OneStop RoSC Notice of Contamination is not allowed in any of the following scenarios:
- The situation involves an emergency.
- The substance release is ongoing or uncontrolled (steps or procedures are required to minimize, control, or stop the release).
- There is a risk to public safety (e.g., an evacuation is underway or drinking water is affected).
- There are observed or known impacts to waterbodies or wildlife.
- The substance release is at a mine site.
- The substance release is associated with an activity that does not have a current AER licence or approval number.
- The situation is happening at an international airport; on military, First Nations, or national park land; or may cross the Alberta border.
- The situation is a release to air or involves transportation of dangerous goods.
- There is uncertainty as to whether any of the above points apply to the situation.
A notice of contamination may be submitted before an environmental site assessment or remediation report has been prepared, but the professional report will need to be submitted as soon as possible. Additional information may be requested after the notice of contamination is reviewed.
Further Information on Release Reporting requirements is available via our Release Reporting webpage.
Record of Site Condition information submitted via OneStop is available in the public domain via AppQuery and the MapViewer (note: RoSCs are visible on the map when the “submissions” layer is turned on). Other information is available in the Products and Services Catalogue—for example, information reported via the 24-hour Energy and Environmental Response Line is available via the “Field Surveillance Incident Inspection List.”
Information on how to complete the AER OneStop Record of Site Condition is available in the OneStop Contamination Management Quick Reference Guides.
