The BCER works to ensure the activities that it regulates are undertaken in a manner that protects public safety and addresses environmental risks in accordance with regulatory requirements.
DATE ISSUED:
July 21, 2026
EFFECTIVE DATE: Immediately
The BC Energy Regulator (BCER) has issued an order to NorthRiver Midstream Inc. (NorthRiver Midstream) requiring further work to assess legacy contamination at the McMahon facility near Taylor, B.C.
The order issued today represents the latest step in the BCER's robust oversight of the McMahon site since the BCER assumed regulatory responsibility for the facility in 2021. The order requires NorthRiver Midstream to have a Qualified Professional undertake specified soil and groundwater sampling and to submit, by Dec. 31, 2026, a detailed investigation report to adequately characterize particular groundwater flow conditions, hydraulic gradients, and potential contaminant migration pathways at the site. The order is intended to ensure the regulator obtains additional information necessary to comprehensively understand site conditions.
Once submitted, the materials will be reviewed by BCER technical staff to inform next steps towards ensuring the site meets regulatory standards regarding the protection of public safety and the environment.
If you have any questions regarding this Information Update, please contact:
Madison Jenneson
Executive Director, Compliance and Enforcement
BC Energy Regulator
Madison.Jenneson@bc-er.ca
Background Information
- The McMahon facility is located adjacent to the Peace River in Taylor, B.C. It opened in 1957 and has a varied operational history that includes former refinery operations and legacy infrastructure such as an earthen flare pit and an oil-water separator.
- Regulatory oversight for the facility transitioned from the Ministry of Environment to the BC Energy Regulator in 2021, placing responsibility for environmental protection, records, reporting, investigation and remediation with the BCER.
- Given evidence of long-standing soil and groundwater contamination at the site, the BCER undertook a thorough review of facility and site information, including historical records.
- In 2024, the BCER sought records, reports, and technical information to support further assessment of environmental conditions and regulatory compliance at the facility.
- To date, available monitoring data and historical records indicate hydrocarbon impacts in the soil and groundwater at the site.
- The current order requires NorthRiver Midstream to have a Qualified Professional undertake specified soil and groundwater sampling and submit, by Dec. 31, 2026, a detailed investigation report to adequately characterize particular groundwater flow conditions, hydraulic gradients, and potential contaminant migration pathways at the site. This will inform next steps towards ensuring the site meets regulatory standards regarding the protection of public safety and the environment.
- The McMahon Plant is three kilometres downstream from where municipal water intakes are located and the BCER is not aware of any evidence that drinking water has been impacted by contamination at the site.