the bc oil & gas commission proactively participating in project decision making processes james...
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The BC Oil & Gas Commission
Proactively Participating in Project Decision Making Processes
James O’HanleyDeputy Commissioner
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BC Oil & Gas Commission - Overview
• Established as a Crown Corporation in 1998
• Oil and Gas Activities Act provides authorities
• Single-Window Regulatory Agency for upstream oil & gas activities
• 5 Offices throughout BC - additional staff in NWBC
• Pure regulator of oil and gas activities – do not issue tenures or administer royalties
3Oil and Gas Activities Act (OGAA)
Provides statutory authority to the Commission to regulate oil and gas activities as defined by the Act including:
• All exploration and development activities• Production, gathering, processing, storage
(including storage reservoirs) and disposal• Provincially regulated pipelines (gas, oil & related
water)• Construction and operation of LNG plants, gas
plants and facilities
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The Commission serves as a “one window” agency able to provide authorizations under the following Acts:
• Forest Act
• Land Act
• Water Act
• Environmental Management Act
• Heritage Conservation Act
• ALC Act – NE BC only (delegated)
Other Legislation
In Summary the OGC Approves and Regulates:• Exploration, development, production, processing,
storage and disposal of oil and gas and associated water
• Construction and operation of provincially regulated pipelines for oil, gas and associated water
• Gas plants and facilities
• Oil and gas road construction and maintenance
• Water allocation
• Air emissions & liquid waste discharges
• Crown Land use (includes some aggregate extraction)
• Timber harvesting (Crown land only)
• Environmental protection
• Archaeological impacts
• Remediation and reclamation
• Some provincial permits on federally regulated projects
• First Nations and stakeholder consultation related to above
• Some projects normally regulated federally
• Compliance & enforcement / Emergency Management
Consultation and Notification Regulation
Environmental Management
Act
Oil and Gas Road Regulation
Fee, Levy and Security RegulationGeophysical Exploration Regulation
Oil and Gas Waste Regulation
Drilling and Production Regulation
Oil and Gas Activities Act
Petroleum and Natural Gas Act
Environmental Protection and Management Regulation
Pipeline Crossings Regulation
Prescribed Roads Regulation
Service Regulation
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OGC: Organizational Focus Areas• Public Safety• Environmental Protection• First Nations and Stakeholder Engagement• Effective, Efficient decision-making• Transparency
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Where Does OGC Fit in the Development of a Reviewable Natural Gas Project?
EA Process
EA Certificate of Approval
Exploration & Investigative
Phase
OGC PermittingCompliance & Enforcement
Emergency Response
Project Construction
Phase
Operation & Maintenance
Phase
OGC Permitting*Compliance & Enforcement
Emergency Response
OGC Participation in Working Group
• Environmental assessment and permitting processes may proceed at the same time, though OGC project approval or construction may not occur unless an EA certificate is issued
• Synchronous permitting
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Permitting: Exploration and Investigative Phase
During preparation for an Environmental Assessment proponents may apply to the OGC for authorization to do activities such as:
• Temporary use or occupation of land for technical studies, camps, helipads, workspaces and storage areas
• Temporary road or trail access
• Temporary water use
• Changes in or about a stream
• Cut and/or remove crown timber
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OGC participates as a member of Working Groups to ensure:• Rationalize matters best dealt with at EA vs permitting• Coordinated First Nations Consultation• Early warning for permitting issues• Efficiencies with public consultation• Effective OGC reviews of applications
Environmental Assessment Process
10 Where Do First Nations Fit in the Development of a Reviewable Gas Project?
Project Construction
Phase
Operation & Maintenance
Phase
EA Process
EA Certificate of Approval
Exploration & Investigative
Phase
First Nations engagement by proponent, EAO, and permitting agencies
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Key is to get involved in environmental assessments:• Primary opportunity to raise interests and concerns• Opportunity to deal with authorizing agencies together
Develop clarity on how permit level consultation will occur• OGC preference – coordinate with EA consultation during EA• Synchronous permitting
Proactive Participation by First Nations
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