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Notice:

Our name has changed! We’re now known as the BC Energy Regulator (BCER) and you can find us at www.bc-er.ca. This name change is part of legislation that also modernizes our board structure and will expand our mandate later this year. For more information, see the provincial government’s news release. Check back regularly as we continue making updates to our webpages to reflect these changes.

This unofficial consolidation of B.C. Statutes and Regulations is updated as new and amended laws come into force.

Click here for an interactive breakdown of what the BC Energy Regulator regulates. You can access any of the Acts and Regulations listed there and below from the BC Laws website.

Please Note: This information is provided here for convenience, but it remains the responsibility of operators to check the rules and laws that apply to them. Check the BC Regulations Bulletins for non-consolidated amendments to these regulations that may be in effect.

Legislation

Energy Statutes Amendment Act

The Energy Statutes Amendment Act repeals the Oil and Gas Activities Act and replaces it.

Bill 37, 2022: Energy Resources Activities Act

Will be brought into force by regulation to:

  • Amend the name of the Oil and Gas Activities Act to the Energy Resource Activities Act and expand responsibilities to include the manufacture of hydrogen, ammonia and methanol.
  • Establish the British Columbia Energy Regulator, formerly known as the BC Oil and Gas Commission, with a modernized and inclusive board structure.
Legislation

Oil and Gas Activities Act (OGAA)

The Oil and Gas Activities Act regulates oil and gas and related activities in B.C., including wells, facilities, oil refineries, natural gas processing plants, pipelines and oil and gas roads, through permits, authorizations, orders and regulations.

Bill 23, 2015: Changes to Oil and Gas Activities
  • Section 48 adds manufacturing plants and petroleum refineries to the list of oil and gas activities regulated under the Oil and Gas Activities Act.
  • Section 51 clarifies that neither the Burnaby Refinery nor the Prince George refinery are considered oil and gas activities until and unless a regulation of the Lieutenant Governor in Council changes this fact.
Go to the Oil and Gas Activities Act on BC Laws

Administrative Penalties Regulation
Requirements for Consultation and Notification Regulation
  • Outlines requirements for consultation and engagement with land owners and rights holders on permit application and amendment. Link to guidance.
Direction No. 1 to the Oil and Gas Commission
  • Prohibits the issuance of a permit to convert a LNG facility pipeline into an oil or diluted bitumen pipeline.
Dormancy and Shutdown Regulation
  • Outlines requirements for companies to undertake in respect of wells that have not been active for an extended period of time.
Drilling & Production Regulation
  • Governs wells and facilities from permitting through to abandonment.
  • For wells, this includes drilling, completion, production and abandonment.
  • For facilities, this includes construction, operation, maintenance and abandonment.
  • Links to guidance available for wells, cores, hydraulic fracturing, storage reservoirs and oil and gas and water production.
Emergency Management Regulation
  • Regulates the planning for emergencies, with an all-hazards approach, and for the initiation of emergency response arising from oil and gas activity.
Environmental Protection and Management Regulation
Fee, Levy and Security Regulation
Geophysical Exploration Regulation
Investigations Regulation
  • Lists the methane emission provisions for which an eligible individual may request an investigation.
Liquefied Natural Gas Facility Regulation
Oil and Gas Activities Act General Regulation
  • Regulates permit expiration, special projects, release of information, surveys, taxation, etc.
Oil and Gas Processing Facility Regulation
  • The regulation takes a comprehensive approach to managing the complexities associated with processing plants, manufacturing plants and new petroleum refineries in British Columbia, and encompasses the entire project life of each facility.
Oil and Gas Road Regulation
  • Regulates construction, maintenance, use and deactivation of oil and gas roads.
Pipeline Regulation
  • Regulates construction, maintenance, use and deactivation of pipelines.
Pipeline Crossings Regulation
  • Regulates distances for working near and for crossing a pipeline and all associated costs.
Security Management Regulation
  • Requires permit holders to comply with CSA Standard Z246.1 and develop a Security Management Program to identify threats and risks on a continuing basis and manage them with appropriate mitigation and response measures.
Service Regulation
  • Sets out the methods of delivery for documents and notices.

Environmental Management Act
Forest Act
  • Regulates oil and gas Master Licenses to Cut, cutting permits, and use of forestry roads.
Heritage Conservation Act
  • Regulates cultural and heritage (archaeology and fossil) sites in B.C.
Land Act
  • Regulates Crown land licences of occupation, statutory right of ways and rents.
Water Sustainability Act
  • Regulates water use.

Agricultural Land Commission Act
  • Agreement with the Commission granting powers to the Commission to decide on applications for permission for non-farm use of identified ALR lands for oil and gas activities and ancillary activities.
Environmental Assessment Act
Mines Act
Petroleum and Natural Gas Act
Water Sustainability Act

Regulates water use, wells, dams, ground water protection, crossings and works in and about a stream that are not regulated by OGAA.

Geothermal Resources Act

Canadian Environmental Assessment Act
  • Regulates Canadian environmental assessment processes for reviewable projects.
Canada Marine Act
First Nation Commercial and Industrial Development Act
Canadian Energy Regulator Act
  • Regulates and approves cross-border pipelines.
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