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