Environmental Planning

Our environmental management programs are based on performance and continuous improvement. Our teams work together with management and all operating areas to ensure we incorporate environmental considerations and planning into all phases of our projects.

We strive to integrate economic, environmental, and social considerations in the decision-making process across all of our business activities. Canadian Natural works co-operatively and effectively with communities, government agencies and stakeholders to reduce potential impacts of our operations and to ensure that all of our operations meet or surpass all industry guidelines, government regulations and company policies. We believe co-operation leads to a better, more sustainable energy industry.

Maintaining an effective Environmental Management System across our operations is key to identifying, minimizing and mitigating potential impact on water, land and air. Our environmental management plan is based on the principles found in the Corporate Statement on Environmental Protection, which is integral to the way in which Canadian Natural conducts its business.

We conduct our business in a way that demonstrates our mission of doing it right. We develop environmental plans for all our projects in order to implement avoidance and mitigation programs. Our environmental planning involves:

• An internal environmental compliance audit and inspection program;
• Prevention of spills and reclamation of spill sites;
• Continuous evaluation of new technologies to reduce environmental impacts;
• Operational procedures to minimize impacts; and
• Management of all incidents and evaluation of root causes to improve performance.

Our environmental risk management strategies employ an Environmental Management Plan and quarterly internal stewardship reports. These quarterly reports are presented to, and reviewed by, our Board of Directors. Further details on environmental risks and GHG emissions management strategies can be found in our Annual Information Form.

In 2010, Canadian Natural received an administrative penalty of $12,500 from Alberta Environment to our Primrose North Plant. Other non-environmental fines were issued to our Conventional Operations for a total of $101,350 including over drilling, not completing well testing and petroleum registry infractions. Alberta Sustainable Resource Development issued two non-compliances fines for unauthorized use of public land, $1,316 in the Lesser Slave Area, and $24,500 in the Lac La Biche area.