Applying for Temporary Diversion Licences

1 Applying for Temporary Diversion Licences Page 1 of 5 Water Act Water (Ministerial) Regulation Temporary Diversion Licences allow for the short-term Diversion and use of surface or groundwater for less than one year in duration. Short-term uses include: Oil sands exploration Drilling of oil and gas wells Construction or maintenance of ice roads Dust control Bridge washing Applications for Temporary Diversion Licences should be restricted to those water bodies where the withdrawal will have minimal impact on the aquatic environment. Preferred sources are: Non-fish-bearing lakes Surface runoff dugouts If a dugout is on private land, consent of the property owner is required, if it s on public land, Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development permission is required.

2 The TDL Application Applications for Temporary Diversion Licences must include: Contact information Surface or groundwater location Legal land description of Diversion site(s) Volume to be diverted Applying for Temporary Diversion Licences Page 2 of 5 Start date and duration of Diversion Purpose of Diversion Some projects have additional requirements: Environmental Field Report or a site visit from an AESRD field officer If the water body contains fish, the application will also be reviewed by AESRD Fish and Wildlife Division Water haulers may apply for TDLs, but it s preferred that the contracting company or environmental consulting firm obtains the licence There is no application fee for a Temporary Diversion licence .

3 Applying for Temporary Diversion Licences Page 3 of 5 The TDL Application Process May Include Public Notice Public notifications for TDLs may be required, at the Director s discretion. Application filed with Applicant publishes notice Public statements of concern (if any) are filed with AESRD Proponent advises AESRD what actions will be taken Application Approved Application Denied Applicant or public can appeal any approval or denial through the Environmental Appeals Board Application is reviewed by AESRD and public notice is prepared Public notice period is 30 days for a licence and 7 days for an Approval. Concerns are reviewed by AESRD and forwarded to proponent for resolution Applying for Temporary Diversion Licences Page 4 of 5 When Temporary Diversion Licences Are Granted TDLs are issued with terms and conditions similar to those specified in long-term Licences such as the approved Diversion site, volume, rate and timing.

4 TDLs usually have less restrictive conditions for monitoring and reporting of water use. In order to protect fish, many surface water Temporary Diversion Licences include specific pumping guidelines: Maximum pumping/ Diversion rates (although intake velocity is not specified) End-of-pipe screens must have openings no larger than mm Applicants may also be required to follow in-stream flow requirements for the source water body Because TDLs are intended for the short-term Diversion and use of groundwater or surface water for less than one year: They are not issued a priority number If sites are to be used repeatedly for water withdrawals over a long period, a licence will be required AESRD will examine a company s long term water use plans and repeated TDL applications will trigger a request for a licence application Surface Dispositions Are Required When Applying for authorization under the Water Act, there are many occasions when you will also need to apply for a Surface Disposition from Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development.

5 Surface Dispositions are required when: Access is on public land and an existing public access point is not being used Before creating new surface access to a water body If you intend to rely on the Green Area Exemption Applying for Temporary Diversion Licences Page 5 of 5 A proposed activity requires permanent occupation of the bed and shore of a water body AESRD Decisions Can Be Appealed Except for TDLs, decisions made by Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development can be appealed to the Environmental Appeals Board either by the applicant, or by a party that has filed a Statement of Concern.