NEB NOTICE / Requests Comments on New Onshore Pipeline Regulations, 1999
- Guidelines
CALGARY, Jan. 19 /CNW/ - The National Energy Board (Board) is proposing
to replace its current Onshore Pipeline Regulations (OPR) with a revised
version and is requesting comments of interested persons on new Onshore
Pipeline Regulations, 1999 - Guidelines (OPR Guidelines). These proposed
changes are being made based on findings of past inquiries, including the
inquiry concerning stress corrosion cracking on Canadian oil and gas pipelines
conducted in 1995-96, together with safety and environmental issues arising
from incident investigations, and revised technical standards.
Under the National Energy Board Act, the Board may make regulations:
governing the design, construction, operation and abandonment of a pipeline;
providing for the protection of property and the environment; and ensuring the
safety of the public and of the company's employees in the construction,
operation and abandonment of a pipeline.
The Board has undertaken to make the OPR more goal-oriented by
identifying the required results of proper pipeline design, construction,
operation and abandonment of pipelines. It is the pipeline company's
responsibility to develop and prove appropriate specifications and procedures
to ensure these required results are met. In order to achieve these results,
the use of widely accepted standard procedures, such as those published by the
Canadian Standards Association, is encouraged.
The Board has developed the OPR Guidelines to assist industry in
complying with the requirements of the OPR. The Board is of the opinion that
this new approach will promote increased industry responsibility and allow
additional flexibility, efficiency and opportunity to implement improved
safety and environmental techniques in a more timely manner.
The Board is requesting comments on the OPR Guidelines by 19 February
1999.
This News Release, the proposed OPR and the OPR Guidelines are available
on the Board's Internet site at neb.gc.ca under What's New!
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