Bill 234 — First Session, 21St Legislature, 35 Elizabeth Ii the Legislative Assembly of Alberta Bill 234 Pollutant Spills Act (Legislature 21, Session 1)

L21 S1 3273

Alberta — Bills

1986 BILL 234 First Session, 21st Legislature, 35 Elizabeth II THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ALBERTA BILL 234 POLLUTANT SPILLS ACT MR. YOUNIE First Reading Second Reading Committee of the Whole Third Reading Royal Assent

Bill 234 Mr. Younie BILL 234 1986 POLLUTANT SPILLS ACT (Assented to , 1986) HER MAJESTY, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, enacts as follows:

Interpretation l^

J) Jj^ ^J^jg ^^^^ (a) "adverse effects" means the effects, or any of the effects, mentioned in

section 2(l)(

a) to (h); (b) "Board" means the Environment Compensation Board established pursuant to

section 11; (c) "discharge", when used as a verb, includes add, deposit, emit or leak and, when used as a noun, includes addition, deposit, emission or leak; (d) "Minister" means the Minister of Environment; (e) "municipality" has the meaning ascribed to it in the Municipal Govemment Act and, in the case of an improvement district, means the Minister of Municipal Affairs; (f) "owner of the pollutant" means the owner of the pollutant immediately before the first discharge of the pol lutant, whether into the natural environment or not, in a quantity or with a quality abnormal at the location where the discharge occurs;

(g) "person having control of a pollutant" means the person and his employee or agent, if any, having the charge, management or control of a pollutant immediately before the first discharge of the pollutant, whether into the natural environment or not, in a quantity or with a quality abnormal at the location where the discharge occurs; (h) "pollutant" means a contaminant other than heat, sound, vibration or radiation, and includes any substance from which a pollutant is derived; (i) "practicable" means capable of being effected or accom plished; (j) "restore the natural environment", when used with reference to a spill of a pollutant, means restore all forms of life, physical conditions, the natural environment and things existing immediately before the spill of the pollutant that are affected or that may reasonably be expected to be affected by the pollutant; (k) "spill", when used with reference to a pollutant, means a discharge, (

i) into the natural environment, (ii) from or out of a stmcture, vehicle or container, and (iii) that is abnormal in quality or quantity in light of all the circumstances of the discharge, and when used as a verb has a corresponding meaning; (1) "substance" means any solid, liquid or gas, or any combination of any of them.

(2) A discharge of a pollutant proscribed by the regulations at a location designated by the regulations shall be deemed to be in a quantity abnormal at the location.

(3) In determining what is practicable for the purposes of this Act, regard shall be had to the technical, physical and financial resources that are or can reasonably be made available.

(4) This Act does not apply to the disposal of animal wastes in accordance with normal farming practices.

(5) A reference in this Act to an owner of a pollutant or a person having control of a pollutant includes a successor, assignee, executor or administrator of the owner of the pollutant or the person having control of the pollutant.

Notice to Minister and 2(1) Every person having control of a pollutant that is spilled others and every person who spills or causes or permits a spill of a pollutant that, (

a) causes or is likely to cause impairment of the quality of the natural environment for any use that can be made of it; (

b) causes or is likely to cause injury or damage to property or to plant or animal life; (

c) causes or is likely to cause harm or material discomfort to any person; (

d) adversely affects or is likely to adversely affect the health of any person; (

e) impairs or is likely to impair the safety of any person; (

f) renders or is likely to render any property or plant or animal life unfit for use by man; (

g) causes or is likely to cause loss of enjoyment of normal use of property; or (

h) interferes or is likely to interfere with the normal conduct of business, shall forthwith notify, (

i) the Minister; (

j) the municipality within the boundaries of which the spill occurred; (

k) where the person is not the owner of the pollutant and knows or is able to ascertain readily the identity of the owner of the pollutant, the owners of the pollutant; and (1) where the person is not the person having control of the poUutant and knows or is able to ascertain readily the identity of the person having control of the pollutant, the person having control of the pollutant, of the spill, of the circumstances thereof, and of the action that the person has taken or intends to take with respect thereto.

(2) The duty imposed by subsection (1) comes into force in respect of each of the persons having control of the pollutant and the person who spills or causes or permits the spill of the pollutant immediately he knows or ought to know that the pollutant is spilled and is causing or is likely to cause adverse effects.

(3) The person required by subsection (1) to give notice and the owner of the pollutant shall give to the Minister such additional information in respect of the pollutant, the source of the pollutant and the spill of the pollutant as may be required by the Minister.

(4) A member of a police force or an employee of a municipality or other public authority who is informed of or who investigates the spill of a pollutant shall forthwith notify the Minister of the spill of the pollutant unless he has reasonable grounds for believing that such notice has been given to the Minister by another person. Duty to act 3(1) xhc owucr of a pollutant and the person having control of a pollutant that is spilled and that causes or is likely to cause adverse effects shall forthwith do everything practicable to prevent, eliminate and ameliorate the adverse effects and to restore the natural environment.

(2) The duty imposed by subsection (1) comes into force in respect of each of the owner of the pollutant and the person having control of the pollutant immediately the owner or person, as the case may be, knows or ought to know that the pollutant is spilled and is causing or is likely to cause adverse effects. Milil'ef"' ''^ "^^^^ Where a pollutant is spilled and the Minister is of the opinion that there are or are likely to be adverse effects as a result of the spill, and (

a) the Minister is of the opinion that neither the person having control of the pollutant nor the owner of the pollutant will carry out promptiy the duty imposed by

section 3; (

b) the Minister is of the opinion that the person having control of the pollutant or the owner of the pollutant cannot be readily identified or located and that as a result the duty imposed by

section 3 will not be carried out promptly; or (

c) the person having control of the pollutant or the owner of the pollutant requests the assistance of the Minister in order to carry out the duty imposed by

section 3, the Minister may order any action to be taken to prevent, eliminate or ameliorate the adverse effects of the spill and restore the natural environment.

(2) No other Act, regulation, by-law, order, permit, approval or licence bars the employees and agents of the Minister from acting in a reasonable manner to carry out the orders given by the Minister under this section.

(3) The Minister need not hold or afford to any person an opportunity for a hearing before giving an order under this section.

Entry and removal 5(1) For the purpose of carrying out any duty imposed or order or direction made or given and his employees and agents, may enter and have access through or over any building, structure^ vehicle, land, water or air and may constmct structures and use machinery, stmctures, materials, and equipment therein or thereon and may remove therefrom the pollutant or any matter, thing, plant or animal or any part of the natural environment that is affected or that may reasonably be expected to be affected by the pollutant.

(2) The rights set out in subsection (1) may be enforced by application without notice to a judge of the Court of Queen's Bench by a person, employee or agent referred to in subsection (1). Disposal of pollutant, etc. Orders by Minister

(3) Where the court, on an application under subsection (2), finds that there is reasonable ground for believing that it is necessary, (

a) to enter and have access through or over any building, stmcture, vehicle, land, water or air; (

b) to construct stmctures or use machinery, stmctures, materials or equipment therein or thereon; or (

c) to remove the pollutant or any matter, thing, plant or animal or any part of the natural environment that is affected or that may reasonably be expected to be affected by the pollutant, for the purpose of carrying out any duty imposed or order or direction made or given under this Act, the court may issue an order authorizing the person and his employees and agents or any one or more of them to act as mentioned in clauses (a), (

b) and (c), or any of them, but every such action shall be taken between sunrise and sunset unless the court authorizes them or any of them to act at another time. 6(1) No person, employee or agent exercising any authority under this Act shall dispose of or use any pollutant, or any matter, thing, plant or animal or any part of the natural envi ronment that is affected or that may reasonably be expected to be affected by the pollutant except in accordance with an order of or direction by the Minister under this or any other Act.

(2) The Minister may give an order or direction to any person, employee or agent mentioned in subsection (1), for the purposes of subsection (1) and may amend or revoke it. 7(1) Where a pollutant is spilled and the Minister is of the opinion that there are or are likely to be adverse effects and that it is in the best interest of the public to make an order under this section, the Minister may make an order directed to one or more of the following:

(

a) the owner of the pollutant; (

b) the person having control of the pollutant; (

c) the owner or the person having the charge, management or control of any real property or personal property that is affected or that may reasonably be expected to be affected by the pollutant; (

d) the municipality within whose boundaries the spill occurred; (

e) any municipality contiguous to the municipality within whose boundaries the spill occurred; (

f) any municipality that is affected or that may reasonably be expected to be affected by the spill of the pollutant; (

g) any public authority; (

h) any person who is or may be adversely affected by the pollutant or whose assistance is necessary, in the opinion of the Minister, to prevent, eliminate or ameliorate the adverse effects or to restore the natural environment.

(2) In an order under this section, the Minister may require the doing of everything practicable or the taking of such action as may be specified in the order in respect of the prevention, elimination and amelioration of the adverse effects and the res toration of the natural environment within such period or periods of time as may be specified in the order.

(3) The Minister need not hold or afford to any person an opportunity for a hearing before giving an order under this section. iunicipaS ^ Where a pollutant is spilled and causes or is likely to cause adverse effects, a municipality may do everything practicable to prevent, eliminate or ameliorate the adverse effects of the spill and to restore the natural environment. Effect of ciimpliancc with 9 A person who in good faith and in reasonable manner, in duty'or order, Carrying out or attempting to carry out, (

a) a duty or right imposed by this Act; or (

b) an order or direction by the Minister under this Act, takes or refrains from taking any action shall not be convicted of any offence in respect of such taking or refraining from taking action.

compensation ^omilnlation 10(1) ^^ ^hls scctiou, "loss or damage" includes personal injury, loss of life, loss of use or enjoyment of property and pecuniary loss, including loss of income.

(2) The Crown or any person has the right to compensation, (

a) for loss or damage incurred as a direct result of, (

i) the spill of a pollutant that causes or is likely to cause adverse effects, (ii) the exercise of any authority or the carrying out of or attempting to carry out a duty imposed or an order or direction made under this Act, or (iii) neglect or default in carrying out a duty imposed or an order or direction made under this Act; (

b) for all reasonable cost and expense incurred in respect of carrying out or attempting to carry out an order or direction under this Act, from the owner of the pollutant and the person having control of the pollutant, whether or not the owner or person was negligent.

(3) An owner of a pollutant or a person having control of a pollutant is not liable under subsection (2) if he establishes that he took all reasonable steps to prevent the spill of the pollutant or if he establishes that the spill of the pollutant was wholly caused by, (

a) an act of war, civil war, insurrection,

an act of terrorism or

an act of hostility by the government of a foreign country; (

b) a natural phenomenon of an exceptional, inevitable and irresistible character, or (

c) an act or omission with intent to cause harm by a person other than a person for whose wrongful act or omission the owner of the pollutant or the person having control of the pollutant is by law responsible, or any combination thereof. (4) Subsection (3) does not relieve the owner of the pollutant or the person having control of the pollutant, (

a) from liability for loss or damage that is a direct result of neglect or default of the owner of the pollutant or the person having control of the pollutant in carrying out a duty imposed or an order or direction made under this Act; or

(

b) from liability, under subsection (2)(a), for cost and expense incurred or, under subsection (2)(b), for all reasonable cost and expense incurred, (

i) to do everything practicable to prevent, eliminate and ameliorate the adverse effects; or (ii) to do everything practicable to restore the natural environment, or both. Board established 11(1) Thcrc is hcrcby established the Environment Compen sation Board consisting of 5 members appoined by the Lieutenant Governor in Council.

(2) The Lieutenant Governor in Council shall name one of the members of the Board to be chairman.

(3) Three members of the Board constitute a quorum.

(4) The members of the Board shall be paid such fees and receive such reimbursement of expenses as is ordered by the Lieutenant Governor in Council.

(5) The Board shall hear and determine all claims for com pensation arising under this Act.

(6) A decision of the Board may be appealed on a question of law or jurisdiction to the Court of Queen's Bench, within 60 days of the Board rendering its decision.

(7) The Board may hold the Crown or any person wholly or partly responsible for the spill or consequences and may order contribution or indemnification by the Crown to any person.

(8) No person may claim compensation under this Act unless the claim is initiated within 2 years from, (

a) where the person commencing the action incurred loss or damage as a result of the spill of a pollutant, the date when the person knew or ought to have known of the loss or damage; (

b) where the person commencing the action incurred loss or damage as a result of carrying out or attempting to carry out or neglect or default in carrying out a duty imposed or an order or direction made under this Act, the date when the person knew or ought to have known of the loss or damage; or (

c) where the person commencing the action incurred cost and expense in respect of carrying out or attempting to carry out an order or direction made under this Act, the date when the person incurred the cost and expense. 8

Right to compensation from Crown Transportation and storage of pollutants Regulations Subject to appropriation 12(1) A person, other than a person referred to in subsection (2), entitled under

section 10(2)(

b) to compensation for reasonable cost and expense has the right, subject to the conditions prescribed by the regulations, to payment of such compensation from the Crown. (2) Subsection (1) does not give a right to payment of com pensation to, (

a) the owner of the pollutant; (

b) the person having control of the pollutant; (

c) a person liable at law other than under this Act for loss, damage, cost or expense arising from the spill of the pollutant; (

d) a person that has a right under a contract to payment of the reasonable cost and expense referred to in subsection (1), or an employee or agent of any of them.

(3) The provisions of this

section apply notwithstanding any other law or the provisions of any contract of insurance.

(4) The Minister shall determine the amount of compensation in accordance with the regulations.

(5) The decision of the Minister on a question of compensation may be appealed within 90 days to the Court of Queen's Bench. 13 No person shall transport or store any pollutant that is designated in the regulations unless he has public liability or bonding in effect in the form and in the amount prescribed in the regulations. 14 The Lieutenant Governor in Council may make regulations necessary for the carrying out of the purposes of this Act including but not limited to (

a) prescribing forms; (

b) setting conditions for compensation under

section 12; (

c) prescribing pollutants in respect of which insurance or bonding is required under

section 13. 15 The Crown is bound by this Act. 16 Any expenditures, compensation or liabilities chargeable to public funds under this Act are contingent upon and are to be paid out of a separate appropriation of money to the purposes of this Act by the Legislature.

In accordance with

section 4(1) of the

Interpretation Act, this Bill comes into force on the date it receives Royal Assent. 10 Title: 1986 (21st, 1st) Bill 234, Pollutant Spills Act

Document details

Collection	Alberta — Bills
Citation	L21 S1 3273
Type	bill
Volume / chapter	L21 S1 3273
Language	en
Format	json
Source	PROVINCIAL
Identifier	5f547266701966d71bd2dc3ee803b792be77e4f2

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