Environment

As a Canadian energy regulator the National Energy Board (NEB) is responsible for ensuring that energy supplies are connected to consumers in a safe and responsible way, and in a way that protects the environment, and the rights of those affected.

The Board's corporate purpose is to regulate pipelines, energy development and trade in the Canadian public interest. This principle guides the Board in carrying out and interpreting its regulatory responsibilities under the National Energy Board Act (NEB Act). The Board is accountable to Parliament, to which it reports, through the Minister of Natural Resources.

In addition to its responsibilities under the NEB Act, the Board also has responsibilities under the Canada Oil and Gas Operations Act, the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, the Northern Pipeline Act, and certain Provisions of the Canada Petroleum Resources Act.

What's New

NEB to Review Arctic Safety and Environmental Offshore Drilling Requirements

The National Energy Board announced on 11 May, 2010 that it will review Arctic safety and environmental offshore drilling requirements in light of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

Currently, there is no offshore drilling in Canada's Arctic and no applications for drilling are before the NEB. See our Questions and Answers page for more info.

Draft Remediation Process Guide

The National Energy Board has developed a draft Remediation Process Guide (Guide) for industry to follow to ensure successful remediation of soil and groundwater contamination. The goal of this Guide is to provide a clear process for submitting remediation information. If remediation is determined to be successful then the NEB will provide a letter to that effect. The NEB will be hosting a technical meeting on 14 October 2010 in Calgary at a location to be determined to answer any questions and hear comments that interested parties may have. Parties wishing to provide written comments on the Guide are requested to do so by 1 December 2010. The Board will finalize the Guide shortly thereafter. [More]

Participant Funding and Substitution of Environmental Assessments

The Jobs and Economic Growth Act (JEGA) - which includes key elements of the federal government's 2010 Budget – received Royal Assent on July 12 2010, and provided NEB with the legislative authority to establish a Participant Funding Program (PFP) under the National Energy Board Act (NEB Act).

The new Participant Funding amendment, with existing substitution provisions of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (CEA Act), will allow the NEB to deliver environmental assessments for projects within its jurisdiction that normally would have been assessed by a joint review panel established under the CEA Act.

Since its inception in 1959 the NEB has always considered the environment when making regulatory decisions. The NEB is considered to be a leader within the federal government in this regard. The NEB has also been conducting environmental assessments under the CEA Act since it came into force in 1995.

Substitution is not new. It has always been part of the CEA Act. A substituted process was used in 2006 with the Emera Brunswick Pipeline Project. The assessment of this pilot was that the process was an efficient way to deliver a review panel.

The NEB continues to work closely with its federal partners in the scoping and delivery of environmental assessments. The process will remain subject to the requirements set out in the CEA Act and approval will still be required from Cabinet. The NEB can also attach environmental conditions to project approvals which it can then monitor and enforce throughout the lifecycle of the pipeline, from project approval to abandonment.

The NEB has approximately 50 environment, socio-economic, lands and stakeholder engagement specialists on staff. Currently the NEB conducts about 20-30 screening-level environmental assessments per year, and has conducted several higher-level assessments, including comprehensive studies, joint review panels and a substituted review panel.

The NEB is committed to ensuring that stakeholders are effectively engaged in the Board's public processes. Before the Board makes a decision on an application for a major project, a hearing is usually held. This allows the company proposing the project, and any other interested people or groups, a chance to provide information on the project and to provide input in support of or against a project. See Involving the Public for more information about how to participate in an NEB hearing.

A participant funding program is being established which will provide financial assistance to support the timely and meaningful engagement of Aboriginal groups, landowners, incorporated non-industry not-for profit organisations, and other interested parties in the NEB's oral hearing process for facilities applications.

The NEB's participant funding program is currently being developed, and will be launched in Fall 2010. Please check the NEB website regularly for updates. See our Questions and Answers page for more info.