Heartland 101

Flipping through your local newspaper, you may notice ads from time to time about industrial companies renewing an Operating Approval. Just like the renewal of a driver’s license and passport at set intervals, most industrial facilities must renew their Operating Approval every ten years.

Most of the time, air quality in Alberta’s Industrial Heartland is of low risk to health. However, with frigid temperatures like we’ve experienced lately, combined with calm winds, pollutants can be trapped close to the ground. One of the simplest ways that individuals can help reduce pollutants is by reducing idling time.

Mega projects in Alberta’s Industrial Heartland most often use modular construction for a large portion of the facility. Parts and pieces are sourced from all over the world. But instead of all the individual pieces arriving on site and assembled in order, many of those pieces are sent to offsite module fabrication yards or shops.

Risk assessment, response plans and access to resources are elements of industry and community emergency management programs. Confirming and improving these plans through drills, exercises and simulations not only enhances public safety, it also satisfies certain regulatory requirements.

More than six decades ago, construction began on the first industrial facility in the region. Today, several of the key advantages and commitment to value adding play a key role, just like in the 1950s.

NCIA has been harnessing the collective knowledge, goodwill, and expertise of its more than 20 member companies for more than a decade. Serving as a common voice for industry, the group has been a catalyst for collaborative work and partnerships that are making a profound difference in Alberta’s Industrial Heartland. An example of this can be found in an innovative 10-year agreement between Aux Sable and Shell Canada.

Between carbon capture and storage, offgas processing, energy mapping, and others, companies in the Heartland are exploring and adopting greener projects in our energy sector. This includes Field Upgrading who has a pilot plant that’s testing a cheaper and cleaner way to upgrade bitumen.

Air quality is considered the most important topic to the local community, according to a 2015 Life in the Heartland survey. As such, residents are keen to know how the region’s air quality is monitored.

It’s technology that exists today and is used in many countries, but surprisingly not in Canada. It’s the Wireless Public Alerting Service (WPAS), and until May 30th, Canadians have an opportunity to support its implementation in a Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunication Commission (CRTC) public consultation.

Rail lines have been transporting goods and people across Canada for over 130 years. Since the completion of the railway to the Pacific Ocean in 1885, rail has been a reliable means of transport. Currently, Canada’s railways move $282 billion worth of goods every year, making it one of the most important modes of transport for our economy.