Purpose

To solicit comments from interested parties to help inform changes to the Dormancy and Shutdown Regulation.

Background

In 2019, it was acknowledged that while many companies were actively restoring sites, the rate of restoration did not keep pace with development and there was a need to speed up the rate at which inactive sites are returned to their pre-activity state. To achieve this the Dormancy and Shutdown Regulation (DSR) was enacted, as part of the BCER’s Comprehensive Liability Management Plan. The DSR establishes both the closure activities (i.e. decommissioning, assessment, remediation, and restoration) for wells, specified facilities, and pipelines, as well as the timelines for closure activities.

In the summer of 2025, the BCER concluded a review of the DSR and the changing regulatory context as part of the Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA) process. We received valuable feedback from First Nations, industry, and the public on the benefits and challenges of the DSR and decided to proceed with regulatory development to address concerns raised through the RIA process. The initial focus of this regulatory development is on improvements to the existing DSR. Future revisions will consider additional expansions of the regulation to cover more energy resource activities.

Objectives of the Proposed Changes

The proposed changes are intended to accomplish three broad goals:

1. Maintain fixed timelines for closure activities.
2. Increase flexibility and adaptability.
3. Ensure two-way communication between interested persons and permit holders informs planning and execution of closure activities.

The document linked below outlines the initial draft regulatory policies for which we are seeking your feedback by Oct. 17, 2025.

Click the image below to open the document:

We will continue to welcome feedback after that date, while we review and analyze written submissions to refine the proposed regulatory policies.

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