Alberta landowners' group tells farmers, ranchers to resist oil development
USO•The Alberta Surface Rights Federation urged farmers and ranchers to withhold consent and refuse new surface leases for oil and gas development, citing orphan wells, delayed reclamation and unpaid municipal taxes. Alberta’s government said it plans legislation addressing liabilities and orphan wells.
1. Call to resist development
The Alberta Surface Rights Federation urged landowners to “actively resist” new oil and gas development on their land, calling for them to verbally withhold consent and refuse to sign new surface leases. Without consent, companies must seek legal right-of-entry orders to access property.
2. Liabilities and response
Federation president Bill Heidecker cited orphan and abandoned wells, delayed site reclamation and unpaid municipal taxes owed by oil and gas companies. A spokesman for Alberta’s energy minister said the province is committed to working with landowners, plans to bring forward legislation addressing liabilities and orphan wells, and is developing a framework to assess companies’ financial viability.
3. Pipeline concerns
Heidecker said Alberta should address energy infrastructure liability and environmental regulation before proceeding with its proposed 1 million-barrel-per-day Pacific Link pipeline project. He said his organization is not advising landowners to physically bar companies from their property.
