Wellsite Construction and Reclamation in the Boreal Forest

Essentials

Essentials are basics and advanced know-how that are essential for success.

Things to Do

• Reclamation of land used for industrial activities in an environmentally sound manner is a principle of land-use in Alberta. Companies are expected to commit to this principle during planning, construction and operation through to completion of reclamation.
• Reclamation of a site begins at the construction of the site. The manner in which the leaf litter layer, topsoil layers and subsoil are removed and stored next to the site determines reclamation success.
• The site reclamation is no better than the skills, commitment and integrity of your equipment operators and construction supervisor during site construction and reclamation.
• Site reclamation should begin as soon as possible on those portions of the wellsite that are no longer needed for the current operations of the wellsite. (see Progressive Reclamation).

Things to Avoid

• Project Management 101: you can have it fast or cheap or good; choose two. In site construction, choosing fast and cheap means reclamation will be long and expensive.
• Construction supervision means the supervisor, at critical stages during  the construction, is out on the site talking to the equipment operators, not sitting in the truck.

Checklists (Knowledge Summary)

• Checklist for Wellsite Construction in the Boreal Forest.
• Checklist for Wellsite Reclamation in the Boreal Forest.
• Checklist For Revegetation of Reclaimed Wellsites in the Boreal Forest.

Factsheets (Good Practices)

• Good Practices for Wellsite Construction in the Boreal Forest.
• Good Practices for Wellsite Reclamation in the Boreal Forest.
• Good Practices for Wellsite Revegetation in the Boreal Forest.
• Progressive Reclamation and Interim Clean-up
• Research Recommendations for Wellsite Construction and Reclamation

Guides, Manuals and Research (The Details)

• Wellsite Construction and Reclamation Links.
• Operating Condition 200.3.4, Enhanced Approval Process, Operating Conditions, revised May 30, 2011. These are Alberta Sustainable Resource Development's most current requirements for soil salvage.
• 2010 Reclamation Criteria for Wellsites and Associated Facilities for Forested Lands  (Revised June 2011). Alberta Environment, Edmonton, Alberta. 99pp.
• Removing the Wellsite Footprint: Recommended Practices for Construction and Reclamation on Upland Forests in Boreal Forest, (Revised January 2010), Dr. Terry Osko and Maggie Glasgow, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta. 61pp.