Geothermal Resource Development Act (SA 2020, c G-5.5).

The purposes of this Act are (a) to provide for the economic, orderly, efficient and responsible development in the public interest of geothermal resources in Alberta; (b) to secure the observance of safe and efficient practices in the public interest in the development of geothermal resources in Alberta; (c) to provide for the responsible management of wells, facilities, well sites and facility sites throughout their life cycles; (d) to manage the development of geothermal resources as between licensees and in relation to the development and conservation of other energy resources in Alberta; (e) to control pollution and to ensure the protection of the environment and public safety in the development of geothermal resources in Alberta; (f) to provide for the timely and useful collection, appraisal and dissemination of information regarding geothermal resources in Alberta.
Firstly the Act provides for the licensing system; no person shall commence or continue to drill any well or to construct or operate any well or facilities without a license. The Regulator is the authority in charge to grant or refuse a license request, to cancel or suspend it when the licensee has failed to comply with the provisions of this Act, the regulations, the rules, a declaration, order or approval, etc. As part of his obligations, the licensee is required to provide reasonable care and measures to prevent impairment or damage in respect of a well, facility, well site or facility site. A continuing liability falls on the licensee as abandonment of a well or facility does not relieve the licensee or working interest participant from responsibility for the control or further abandonment of the well or facility or from the responsibility for the costs of doing that work. Remediation actions for failure to comply or when a substance has escaped are under section 21. Offences and penalties are under section 28.