Onshore Pipeline Regulations and Filing Manuals Update

G. OPR – Pipeline Integrity Topic Paper

This paper describes potential amendments to the OPR to improve the CER’s oversight of Pipeline Integrity. Any suggestions for improvement regarding this topic are welcome, and in particular, the CER seeks your comments on proposed improvements related to: 

• certain definitions
• the use of new technologies;
• geohazard assessments;
• storage facilities;
• materials traceability; and,
• the quality assurance program. 

H. OPR – Reporting Harm Topic Paper

This paper describes potential amendments to the OPR to improve the CER’s oversight of Reporting Harm. Any suggestions for improvement regarding this topic are welcome, and in particular, the CER seeks your comments on proposed improvements related to: 

• the definition of incident;
• incident near-misses;
• those incidents that have the potential to harm the environment;
• industry-wide learning opportunities from reported incidents; and,
• sites of historic and cultural significance.

I. OPR – Rights and Interests of Indigenous Peoples, Socio-economic Effects, and Engagement Topic Paper

This paper describes potential amendments to the OPR to improve the CER’s oversight of impacts to the rights and interests of Indigenous Peoples, socio-economic effects and engagement requirements. Any suggestions for improvement regarding this topic are welcome, and in particular, the CER seeks your comments on proposed improvements related to:

• preventing and addressing impacts to the rights and interests of Indigenous Peoples; 
• managing socio-economic effects; and, 
• clarifying engagement requirements with potentially impacted people and communities over the lifecycle of pipeline infrastructure.  

J. OPR – Safety Topic Paper

This paper describes potential amendments to the OPR to improve the CER’s oversight of Safety. Any suggestions for improvement regarding this topic are welcome, and in particular, the CER seeks your comments on proposed improvements related to: 

• process safety management; and,
• safety plans for construction, operation and maintenance, and abandonment activities. 

K. Filing Manuals - Environmental and Socio-Economic Assessment Topic Paper

As noted in the Backgrounder, the CER is seeking your feedback on possible changes to the “Environmental and Socio-Economic Assessment” (ESA) section in the Filing Manuals (i.e., section A.2 of the Filing Manual, and chapter 6 of the Electricity Filing Manual). The CER seeks your comments on the following topics, however any suggestions for improvement with regard to these sections are welcome.

L. Filing Manuals - Lands Topic Paper

As noted in the Backgrounder document, the CER is seeking your feedback on possible changes to the “Lands Information” section in the Filing Manuals (i.e., section A.4 of the Filing Manual, and chapter 8 of the Electricity Filing Manual). Any suggestions for improvement regarding this section are welcome, and in particular, the CER seeks your comments on the following topics.