Information on Oil Sands Consultations may be found at: http://www.oilsandsconsultations.gov.ab.ca/

Archive Information:

A steering group that included representatives from environmental organizations, First Nations, industry and government were asked to revise plans for consulting on policy principles for Alberta’s Mineable Oil Sands Strategy (MOSS).

MOSS sets out clear, long-term objectives to assist government and industry in a more coordinated regulatory, development and reclamation approach to all mining projects within a specific area of North eastern Alberta. The cumulative effects within the development zone will be managed with an overall approach, not on a project by project basis.

Working with the Cumulative Environmental Management Association (CEMA) and other stakeholders, the steering group will review and recommend how consultation on policy principles for the oil sands area should proceed. As part of this process, workshops planned for January and the Internet consultation to gather feedback on the draft Mineable Oil Sands Strategy will be cancelled.

The group is to deliver a final report to government by March 31, 2006. That report will help determine how consultation on policy development for this area moves forward on two documents being developed by the Alberta Government:

• The draft Mineable Oil Sands Strategy—describes the broad policy framework that will direct plans and actions within the mineable oil sands area.

• The draft Fort McMurray Mineable Oil Sands Integrated Resource Management Plan —updates an existing land use plan that includes the mineable oil sands area. The plan includes specific changes describing how the Mineable Oil Sands Strategy would be implemented “on the ground.”

  More MOSS documents are available on the Oil Sands Consultations website.