Alberta and Canada are home to the most stringent environmental protection regulations for resource projects.  Some of the legislation applicable to coal mining includes:

Responsible Energy Development Act (Alberta) – Provides for the safe, efficient, and environmentally responsible development of energy resources in Alberta.

Coal Conservation Act and Regulations (Alberta) – Administered by the Alberta Energy Regulator, to control pollution and ensure environmental conservation in the development of coal resources in Alberta.

Mines and Minerals Act (Alberta) – Governs the management and disposition in Crown-owned mines and minerals; includes the levying and collecting of rents, royalties and bonuses.

Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act (Alberta) – the primary Act in Alberta that regulates the management of the requirements for air, water, land and biodiversity. The Act supports and promotes the protection and enhancement of the environment by designating proposed activities which require approval or registration.

Public Lands Act (Alberta) – Establishes the role of the Alberta government in managing public lands and sets out the mechanisms how public land can be transferred by lease or sale.

Water Act (Alberta) – Promotes the conservation and management of water through the allocation of water in Alberta. The Act enshrines Albertan’s rights to divert water, and the priorities of water rights among users as well as the decision making and enforcement powers to ensure the objectives of the Act are met.

Conservation and Reclamation Regulation (Alberta) – The objective of this regulation is to ensure the conservation and reclamation of specified land to an equivalent land capability, and sets standards, guidelines and directives for such activities.

Alberta Environmental Flows Program (Alberta) – Defines environmental or “in-stream” flows describing the quantity, timing and quality required to sustain freshwater ecosystems and the human livelihoods that depend on these ecosystems.

South Saskatchewan Regional Plan (Alberta) – Identifies the parameters for robust growth, vibrant communities and healthy environment through long-term planning for the region over the next 50 years. The SSRP sets the economic, environmental and social outcomes for the region.

Livingstone – Porcupine Hills Land Footprint Management Plan (Alberta) – A sub-regional plan that provides direction for the long-term cumulative effects on public lands within the region.

Coal Mining Effluent Regulations (Canada) – Proposed regulations to set national baseline effluent quality standards for all coal mines, including environmental effect monitoring provisions. Applies to the national coal mining sector.

Impact Assessment Act (Canada) – Establishes public processes to examine the environmental effects of a proposed project.

Species at Risk Act (Canada) – the purpose of the Act is to prevent wildlife species in Canada from disappearing and provides for the recovery of species that are endangered, threatened or extirpated as a result of human activity.

Navigable Waters Act (Canada) – Requires approval for any works that may affect navigation on navigable waters in Canada.

Fisheries Act (Canada) – This is the main federal law governing fisheries in Canada. It has protected fish and fish habitat and regulated seacoast and inland fisheries since 1868.

Migratory Bird Convention Act (Canada) – Administered by Environment and Climate Change Canada, this Act seeks to ensure the protection of migratory birds, their eggs and their nests.