TAKING ACTION ON PRIORITY ENERGY-RELATEDAIR ISSUES THROUGH COLLABORATIVEDECISION-MAKING IN ALBERTA

摘要

Public demand for clean air and effective equitable air quality management continues to behigh in Alberta. In recognition of the broad public interest, the province has managed priority airissues since 1994 through an innovative multi-stakeholder consensus based forum called the Clean AirStrategic Alliance (CASA). Comprised of a diverse range of public interest, industry sector; andgovernment department stakeholders, CASA addresses priority and emerging air issues bydevelopment of recommended provincial and industry sector / stakeholder management strategies. Theapproach taken by CASA for two key issues facing the Alberta petroleum sector: sulphur dioxidemanagement and the flaring of solution gas, are discussed. A “target loading” approach is underdevelopment for the management of sulphur dioxide and other acidifying emissions while a flaremanagement framework including a flare volume reduction schedule in conjunction with flareperformance requirements and the removal of barriers to mini-turbine electricity generation wasrecommended for solution gas flaring. Analysis, management strategies recommended,implementation difficulties, progress and results for the two issues are provided.