CLRA Alberta Chapter 2020 AGM & Conference Presentations & Proceedings

The CLRA Alberta Chapter hosted the 43rd annual AGM and Conference in Red Deer from February 26-28, 2020 with an attendance of over 500. This year's theme was:  'Love Alberta Energy' - Energy has been the foundation of the Alberta economy for generations and continues to be a driver for our way of life. Time has brought diversity to the ways in which we derived energy from what Mother Nature has given us in this province and how we utilize it. Regardless of the energy source, whether it be solar, wind, coal, oil and gas, biomass, geothermal, or hydro, industries experience challenges and success. They continue to seek ways to improve their technology, design, construction, management, and environmental impact. At the conference, presenters shared and celebrated how energy "powers" our daily lives by highlighting what we do to keep Albertans and Canadians living well while achieving our environmental commitments and priorities and continually striving forward.

Students from recognized reclamation programs were also honoured with scholarships in recognition of academic excellence, and a proven interest in reclamation-related applications.

The Student Mentor Program grew to 150 mentors and mentees, and continues to help students attending the conference learn the ropes, meet some new people, and feel comfortable within our world of reclamation. It helps the students experience the conference and contributes to their professional development as they will soon be entering the field.

The conference consisted of:

• Two days of presentations with over 40 different speakers

• Networking breaks

• Sponsor booths

• Evening networking reception

• Evening social, banquet, and student awards

The CLRA Alberta Chapter honored Don Wood as the recipient of the Gerry Bourassa Award as an Exceptional Volunteer.

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2020 CLRA Alberta AGM & Conference

Attendee Survey

Please share your feedback on the 2020 CLRA Alberta AGM and Conference so our upcoming events can best meet your needs.  All submissions will be entered to win a complimentary 2021 conference registration.

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Presentations & Speakers

In order of appearance in the 2020 Program, presentations are linked to approved resources only, please refer to the program for more information on all sessions and to view speaker biographies.

Thursday, February 27, 2020

Plenary Sessions: 08:00 – 10:00

Exhibition Hall

• The Future of the Oil and Gas Industry in a Carbon Constrained World

• Alberta Energy: Spreading the Good News

• Evolution of the Orphan Well Association

Concurrent Sessions: 10:30 – 12:00

Exhibition Hall

• Navigating CLRA: “Coles Notes” and Cheat Codes for Students

Monaco

• Solar Pump - The Future of Irrigation for Ecological Restoration

• Biophysical Impacts And Reclamation Consideration For Solar, Wind and Geothermal Energy Systems

• Using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) for Predicting and Protecting Against Soil Loss From Energy Sites

Santano

• Regulator Variance Requests: A Tool for Site Closure

• Novel Methods of Trace Metals Sampling in Water: Applications and Challenges

• Approaching Assessment and Remediation with an Understanding of Screening Guideline Derivation

Palermo

• Watercourse Crossings, A Collaborative Approach Before it is Too Late

• Borrow Pit Reclamation: Establishment, Survival, and Growth of Vegetation within Two Topsoil Depths in Northeastern Alberta

• Underutilized Open Bottom Culvert System for a Fish Friendly Watercourse

Savona

• A Tool for Managing Invasive Species for Success

• Using Autonomous Technology to Improve Worker and Environmental Safety in the Reclamation Industry

• Integrated Weed Management: Overcoming Challenges in Forested and Grazing Systems Using a Holistic Approach

Concurrent Sessions: 13:30 – 14:30

Monaco

• Energy Production & Environmental Protection - Finding a Balance

• Research Collaboration Advances Best Practice and Ecological Outcomes for In Situ Oil Sands

Santano

• Impacted Soil as a Resource - A Different Way of Thinking

• An Integration of Science and Indigenous Knowledge to Reconstruct Natural Environmental Background

Palermo

• Rethinking the RFP Process & KT Analysis - Beyond the Environmental Services Rate Sheet

• Pilot Turnkey - Lump Sum Asset Closure Project

Savona

• TMI: Too Much Information

• Utilizing Remote Sensing and Statistical Analysis for Efficient and Transparent Reclamation Monitoring

Concurrent Sessions: 15:00 – 16:30

Monaco

• Recovery Evaluation of Harvested Donor Moss Sites for In-Situ Peatland Restoration: Ecological & Provincial Criteria Perspectives

• Reforestation in a Stressful and Uncertain Climate

• Initiation of Fen Communities on Remnant Mineral Substrate of In-Situ Oil and Gas Features: A Meta-Analysis of Field Trials

Santano

• Remediation of Chloroform by Chemical Reduction Using Zero Valent Iron in Anaerobic Bottles

• Evaluating Phase 1 ESA Production Triggers and Update to PTAC Drilling Waste Compliance Option Project: Adapting and Collaborating When Determining Risk

• North Saskatchewan River Clean Up and Assessment

Palermo

• Native Seed Quality and Supply within Canada’s Supply System

• Doing It Right: Using Ecological Principles to Select Appropriate Techniques and Equipment for Grassland Reclamation

• Innovative Reclamation for Energy Projects: Harnessing the Power of Native Species on Salt-impacted Sites

Savona

• X-Ray Vision: Novel Use of CT Scanner to View In Situ Saline Response in Plant Roots

• Adopting New Field Screening Methods to Reduce Costs – A Set of Case Studies for the Application of SWIR Sensing with Machine Learning for PHC and Salinity Impacts

• Bringing the Forest to the Office – How Virtual Reality Can be Used in Training and Decision Making About Restoration

CLRA Social 17:00 – 18:00

Exhibition Hall

Industry Banquet and Awards 18:00 – 22:30

Exhibition Hall

• Western Sky – Celebrate the Rosebud River

• Student Award Recipients

• Student Award Recipients

• Graduate Student Award Recipients

• Industry Award Recipients

Friday February 28, 2020

Plenary Sessions: 08:30 – 12:00

Exhibition Hall

• CLRA National Updates

• The Canadian Conservation and Land Management Knowledge Network: Connecting and Supporting Communities of Practice

• BC Regulatory Update – Dormant Site Assessment, Remediation, and Reclamation

• Native Prairie Protocol

• The New Remediation Regulation: Contaminated Sites Management in the Statutory Context of Environmental Protection

• Reclamation and Remediation Issues before the Environmental Appeals Board and the Public Lands Appeals Board

CLRA Alberta Chapter AGM: 13:00 – 13:30

Exhibition Hall

• CLRA Alberta Chapter Annual General Meeting

Plenary Sessions: 13:30 – 15:30

Exhibition Hall

• Canada's Oil Sands Innovation Alliance: Driving Innovation in Environmental Science and Technology through Collaboration

• Don’t Get Bogged Down by Tier 2 Wetland Contamination Assessments – Solutions and Options for Common Problems

• Closing Remarks and Door Prizes