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AOPA Amendments

In 2002, the Agricultural Operation Practices Act (AOPA) came into force. The Act, administered through the Natural Resources Conservation Board (NRCB), sets standards and approvals for Confined Feeding Operations (CFOs). The system has worked reasonably well but there were some problems that needed addressing. In 2004, the government set up a review committee to seek input and recommend changes to the Act.

On June 1, 2004 changes to the AOPA became law.  The changes are designed to improve the approval and enforcement process used by the NRCB.  Some of the highlights of the changes are:

• The grandfathered status of existing producers has been expanded and clarified
  
• Producers will now be able to ask the NRCB to modify problematic conditions from existing municipal development permits
  
• Anyone living within your Minimum Distance Separation (MDS) setbacks will be able to waive the MDS when you are expanding
  
• New rules to give more flexibility to producers and the NRCB when minor changes or improvements are being made to an operation
  
  
• Composting:
  
  
  • Compost containing manure is treated like manure (i.e. MDS, land application)
    
  • AOPA regulates all composting from primary agriculture except compost containing carcasses or parts of carcasses
    
    
• Manure spreading:
  
  
  • Manure cannot be applied on frozen or snow-covered ground if an operation has nine months of manure storage capacity unless approved by NRCB
    
  • Effective January 1, 2005 , people who apply, transfer or receive 500 tonnes per year or more of manure are required to keep records each year and conduct soil tests every three years where manure is applied.

For more information visit the website at: www.nrcb.gov.ab.ca

The NRCB is an independent, quasi-judicial agency reporting to the Minister of Sustainable Resources Development. The NRCB was created by the Natural Resources Conservation Board Act.

The NRCB's mandate, as established by the Natural Resources conservation Board Act, is to determine whether these projects are in the public interest , which means balancing the social, environmental and economic interests of Albertans.

The expansion of the NRCB's mandate to include the regulation of ILOs, now called confined feeding operations (CFOs) , reflects Albertans' desire for sustainable development of our natural resources and our livestock industry. It also reflects the need for a consistent, science-based decision-making process and consistently applied and enforced standards.

Under the new ILO process, the Natural Resources Conservation Board's mandate is expanded to include responsibility for the approval and siting of new and expanding intensive livestock operations, as well as manure management facilities.

For more information on the NRCB, visit their www.nrcb.gov.ab.ca.