The Redford government says it’s taking steps at balancing development and the environment in the oilsands.

It has approved the Lower Athabasca Regional Plan, which is a product of more than three years of consultations with Albertans, First Nations and experts on social, economic and environmental issues.

Environment Minister Diana McQueen says the plan will set limits for air and surface water quality.

LARP, which takes effect September 1st, creates six new conservation areas that total three times the size of Banff National Park.

It also increases protected habitat for endangered woodland caribou.
    
McQueen says LARP gives industry clear rules about what it can and cannot do.

Meantime Simon Dyer from the Pembina Institute tells 660News the regional plan is a step in the right direction.

“The 1.2 million hectares in new protected conservation areas should be applauded. It’s a promising start but it’s just the beginning of the improvements that need to happen though. Many elements of the regional plan remain incomplete or works in progress,” Dyer says.
   
Two previous attempts to provide some sort of plan for the region failed because they didn’t provide enough environmental protection and because of industry concerns.
    
The latest plan comes as Alberta and Ottawa set up extensive environmental monitoring in the region.