Following our report in November, as of December 2, 2010, Alberta's Bill 24, the Carbon Capture and Storage Statutes Amendment Act, 2010 has entered into force. Bill 24 requires the Alberta government to accept long-term liability for carbon dioxide (CO2) that is sequestered underground by way of carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects. The bill proposes that the government assume liability from project operators by becoming the owner of the captured CO2 once it is provided with data proving the stored CO2 is contained. The bill also clarifies the definition of pore space and creates a post-closure stewardship fund for the costs of ongoing monitoring and remedial work. Alberta is the first province in Canada to pass comprehensive legislation for CCS.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.
