The purposes of The Surface Rights Acquisition and Compensation Act are, as stated at s.3 are:
- To provide for a comprehensive procedure for acquiring surface rights;
- To provide for the payment of just and equitable compensation for the acquisition of surface rights; and
- To provide for the maintenance and reclamation of the surface of land acquired in connection with surface rights acquired under the Act.
The Board determines issues specifically assigned to it by the Act and other legislation. The Board must make its decisions independently and impartially, ensuring the processes are fair for all parties that appear before it.
Balancing sound, consistent and standardized oil field practices, agricultural practices and environmental practices with the public interest and the maintenance of public policy is always a challenge. The environmental integrity of petroleum operations is always of great concern to the Board.
The Board must make its decisions independently and impartially, ensuring the processes are fair for all parties that appear before it.
Unlike a court, the Board does not have inherent jurisdiction to determine any issue. The Board only has authority to determine issues that are specifically assigned to it by the act and other legislation.