In British Columbia, the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) is a provincial designation in which agriculture is recognized as the priority land use. The ALR protects approximately 4.6 million hectares of agriculturally suitable land across BC. Non-agricultural uses—such as oil and gas development, mining and other developments—are restricted and strictly regulated by the Agricultural Land Commission (ALC).
In the case of oil and gas development in the ALR, the ALC has delegated authority to the BC Energy Regulator to balance industry objectives with the conservation of agricultural land use. Conditions of project approval hinge on commitment to effective conservation of agricultural land capability throughout the life of a project, from permitting to final reclamation. In practical terms, this involves careful assessment and management of terrain, soil and vegetation with input and guidance from a Professional Agrologist.
Per the BCER-ALC Delegation Agreement:
- ‘Schedule A’ pre-disturbance site assessments are required to document Project setting and site conditions that best inform environmental management practices and benchmarks prior to construction.
- ‘Schedule B’ post-construction reclamation/closure assessment are required to verify site conditions (with respect to pre-construction benchmarks) that confirm the status of equivalent land capability.
EDI has a team of Professional Agrologists and a wealth of experience conducting ‘Schedule A’ and ‘Schedule B’ assessments for clients, such as Ovintiv Canada in the Peace River Regional District.
For a list of services EDI provides to the oil and gas sector, please click HERE. For specifics on the ALR, please refer to the Agricultural Land Commission Act and Agricultural Land Reserve Use Regulation.