The Wood Buffalo Environmental Association (WBEA)
The Wood Buffalo Environmental Association (WBEA) monitors the environment of the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo in north-eastern Alberta. Our environmental monitoring work is the most integrated and intensive focus on air and terrestrial monitoring in any one area, anywhere in Canada. WBEA is committed to reporting accurate and timely high-quality data from our Air, Terrestrial and Human Exposure Monitoring Programs to ensure regional stakeholders have the information they need to make informed environmental decisions.
Company details
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- Business Type:
- Professional association
- Industry Type:
- Monitoring and Testing - Environmental Monitoring
- Market Focus:
- Nationally (across the country)
- Year Founded:
- 1985
About Us
- is a dynamic collaboration of communities, environmental groups, industry, government and Aboriginal stakeholders.
- is an integral component of Alberta Environment regulatory compliance for member companies.
- operates the most extensive ambient air network in Alberta with 17 air monitoring stations and 23 passive monitoring stations to date.
- reports continuous ambient air quality data, in real time, directly to our website.
- operates environmental monitoring programs to monitor ambient air, land and human exposure.
- operates in an area where the main industry is oil sands development.
- engages stakeholders in the work of the Association, and increases interaction with the public through a number of outreach opportunities, including open houses, newsletters, radio and newspaper advertising, school presentations, trade shows, science fairs, Environment Week and other special events.
People are empowered to make informed decisions to ensure a safe and healthy environment.
Our Mission…The Wood Buffalo Environmental Association is a multi-stakeholder, consensus-based organization that leads in state-of-the-art environmental monitoring to enable informed decision-making.
Our Core Values…- We are scientifically independent.
- We recognize, respect, and use traditional knowledge.
- We are transparent and timely in communicating accurate and accessible data.
- We are dedicated to using best available practices and technology.
- We support diverse stakeholder participation to achieve consensus-based decisions.
From north-central Alberta to the borders of Saskatchewan and the Northwest Territories, the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo (www.woodbuffalo.ab.ca) covers 68,454 square kilometres, making it the second largest municipality in Canada. It was established in 1995 through an amalgamation of the City of Fort McMurray and Improvement District No. 143.The Athabasca Oil Sands Region (AOSR) is within the municipality, and includes both traditional bitumen mining operations and in situ oil production. The region also encompasses the communities of Fort McMurray, Fort Chipewyan, Fort McKay, Anzac, Janvier and Conklin.
History & Evolution
WBEA has a long history in the Wood Buffalo region and was established even prior to the unprecedented growth of the oil sands industry.
- In 1985, Fort McKay First Nation expressed concern about the environment.
- In response, government and industry formed an Air Quality Task Force which described issues, established priorities and recommended ongoing dialogue and a consensus-based approach to air quality concerns.
- Air Quality Task Force became the Regional Air Quality Coordinating Committee (RAQCC). RAQCC prioritized regional air quality concerns and coordinated a program to manage air quality in the region.
- In 1993, the Government of Alberta developed a regional approach to air quality monitoring under the umbrella of the Clean Air Strategic Alliance (CASA).
- In 1997, RAQCC was reformed into the Wood Buffalo Environmental Association (WBEA).
- CASA formally endorsed the WBEA monitoring program in 1996.
- In 1997, the WBEA assumed responsibility for ownership and operation of a regional consolidated air quality monitoring network in the Wood Buffalo region.
- Capital costs were originally provided by Suncor Energy and Syncrude Canada Limited. Alberta Environment provided equipment on a long-term basis, as well as expertise and in-kind contributions.
- In 1999, WBEA implemented Terrestrial Environmental Effects Monitoring (TEEM), an ecological monitoring program.
- In 2005, WBEA implemented the ongoing Human Exposure Monitoring Program (HEMP).
- Membership, funding and in-kind contributions continue to rise with the increase in industrial activity.
- Environment Canada releases the Integrated Monitoring Plan for the Oil Sands in 2011.
- In 2012, the Governments of Canada and Alberta introduced the Joint Canada-Alberta Implementation Plan for Oil Sands Monitoring (JOSM). The Plan builds on a foundation of monitoring that is already in place, and is intended to enhance existing monitoring activities.
- In 2014, the Alberta Environmental Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting Agency (aemera.org) is established to monitor, evaluate and report on key air, water, land and biodiversity indicators to better inform decision-making by policy makers, regulators, planners, researchers, communities, industries and the public.
- WBEA is already meeting many of requirements set out in JOSM, and continues to work collaboratively with other jurisdictions and stakeholders to move JOSM and the new Alberta Environmental Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting Agency move forward.