A Paperwork Problem; Watchdog Calls Into Question NRCB Rulings Because Of Legal Snafu
April 14, 2003
Grande Prairie Daily Herald-Tribune
Neal Talbot
The Society for Environmentally Responsible Livestock Operations of Alberta (SERLO), Alberta’s top intensive livestock operation watchdog is, according to this story, accusing the Natural Resources Conservation Board of unlawfully approving facilities that failed requirement regulations and that NRCB officials have been unlawfully using draft amendments to help grant permits for CFO’s throughout the province.
SERLO president Sue Pearson was quoted as saying, “The NRCB has been using a draft of an amendment to the Standards and Administration Regulations under the Agricultural Operations Practices Act of Alberta as a legal document on which to base its decisions with regards to the issuance of permits for the development and expansion of CFO’s,” noting that the amendment is not a legal document and cannot be used in the decision process.
“They have therefore been illegally bending the rules to do what they see fit and not following the laws that they are supposed to be enforcing.” NRCB lawyer Bill Kennedy was cited as admitting that approval officers had accidentally been using the amendment, which was only approved for use April 3, since November because of an informational mix-up, adding, “The amendment was used in good faith by our officers and the mistake was made on the administration end. However, all this would have done is cause a delay in the approval of an application until the amendment was approved anyway.”
