The Canada Energy Regulator (CER) has highlighted new contractor oversight guidance, which seeks to support pipeline authorization holders in fulfilling their responsibilities to design, construct, operate, or abandon a pipeline.
The guidance provides that such design, construction, operation, or abandonment of pipelines should be safe and secure for people, pipelines, property, and the environment.
According to the CER’s news release, the new guidance aims to assist companies that build and operate pipeline projects in complying with the Canadian Onshore Pipeline Regulations (OPR).
The OPR requires pipeline companies to implement management system processes to proactively identify, evaluate, prevent, manage, and mitigate hazards and risks and to exercise sufficient oversight over their contractors.
“This guidance describes the areas of concern and provides corresponding OPR management system requirements,” the document states. “It also describes actions that promote compliance, and relevant CER observations and non-compliances to assist companies in understanding their responsibilities.”
Goals of new guidance
In its news release, the CER explained that the new guidance seeks to help pipeline companies ensure that contractors work safely and avoid property damage, environmental harm, impacts to heritage resource sites, serious injuries, and fatalities.
While the guidance lacks an exhaustive step-by-step list of prescriptive actions, the CER noted that pipeline companies can use the document to:
- Advance organizational learning and continuous improvement
- Support self-assessments of current contractor oversight practices and outcomes
- Instruct personnel regarding the relevant responsibilities
- Inform contractor selection and procurement activities
- Refine their expectations for contractors and contracted work activities
Meetings with pipeline companies
In its news release, the CER shared that it engaged with pipeline companies in an effort to improve the planned guidance.
Responding to the companies’ insights, the CER explained that the new guidance seeks to:
- Require competent contractors who are trained for their roles
- Mandate the supervision of contractors and the verification of their competency and qualifications
- Ensure clear and consistent communication processes
More energy news
Here are some other news stories involving energy.
On July 24, Housing, Infrastructure, and Communities Canada announced that the federal government and 10 Mi’kmaw communities in Nova Scotia have invested more than $4.8 million in renewable energy generation through the installation of solar panels in the communities.
On June 12, the Ontario government highlighted that the Independent Electricity System Operator has secured 640 megawatts of new electricity capacity via three projects chosen under the capacity stream of the second long-term request for proposals.
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