Functional Responsibility:
The Surface Reclamation Council was responsible to conserve the land surface as the environmental base. Their jurisdiction included lands which had been surveyed and were used for mineral development purposes. They could inquire into the condition of lands held under surface lease or right of entry order, or lands used for wells, pipelines, batteries, mines or quarries. Through an administrative transfer (OC 303/72, A.R. 55/72), the administration of the Surface Reclamation Act was transferred from the Minister of Mines and Minerals to the Minister of the Environment. The Surface Reclamation Council became the Land Conservation and Reclamation Council when The Surface Reclamation Act was repealed by the Land Surface Conservation and Reclamation Act, 1973 (S.A. 1973, chapter 34). The new act renamed the council the Land Conservation and Reclamation Council and extended the Council's authority to the entire province.
The Land Conservation and Reclamation Council had the responsibility to monitor surface disturbances to ensure satisfactory reclamation. The inspectors could issue orders to require reclamation of disturbed lands, and subsequently certify the reclamation as satisfactory. Reclamation certification was required for all abandoned well sites, pipelines, battery sites, mines and quarries.

Predecessor and Successor Bodies:
Land reclamation and conservation work was continued by the Department of Environmental Protection when the Land Conservation and Reclamation Council ceased to exist. Procedures were outlined through the Conservation and Reclamation Regulation (AR 115/93).

Administrative Relationships:
The Surface Reclamation Council initially reported to the Minister of Mines and Minerals. However, after the Department of the Environment was created, the administration of the Council was transferred to Minister of the Environment (A.R. 55/72, OC 303/72).

Administrative Structure:
When established as the Surface Reclamation Council, the Council was to consist of the Deputy Minister of Mines and Minerals, other members appointed by the Lieutenant Governor, and three members appointed by local authorities. The Deputy Minister of Mines and Minerals was to be the chairman. With the Land Surface and Reclamation Act, the Council was to consist of representatives from the Departments of Environment (chairman), Lands and Forests (deputy chairman), Mines and Minerals (deputy chairman), and other members, including those appointed by local authorities and regional planning commissions. Each municipal government was to appoint two members.
A technical advisory committee, the Reclamation Research Technical Advisory Committee, was established through Ministerial Order 29/78 to assist the Council. The Committee, established according to section 6 of the Department of the Environment Act, was to serve as a technical advisory group to the Land Conservation and Reclamation Council. In addition, the Committee was to advise the Council on reclamation research matters.

Names of the Corporate bodies:
The Surface Reclamation Council was established under An Act respecting the Maintenance and Reclamation of, and the Recovery of Rental for, the Surface of Land Used in Connection with Mines, Quarries, Oil and Gas Operations and Pipe Lines, 1963 (S.A. 1963, chapter 64), known in short as The Surface Reclamation Act . The Land Surface Conservation and Reclamation Act, 1973 (S.A. 1973, chapter 3) repealed The Surface Reclamation Act and effectively renamed the Surface Reclamation Council the Land Conservation and Reclamation Council (section 64.3).

Names of Chief Officers:
Chairmen:
Stanley Tracy 1964-1972
Henry W. Theissen 1972-1981
Doug G. Harrington 1981-1982
John M. King 1982-1991
Larry Brocke (acting) 1992-1994