Dam owners, who are also permit holders under the Oil and Gas Activities Act (OGAA) must now combine their Dam Emergency Plan (DEP) with their existing Emergency Response Plan (ERP)--if the dam has a consequence classification that requires a DEP.
DATE ISSUED: Aug. 24, 2020
EFFECTIVE DATE: Immediately
Since 2017, Regulator staff have held designated authority under the Dam Safety Regulation (DSR) as provided by the Ministry of Forest, Lands, and Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development to regulate dams predominately associated with supporting activities related to the oil and gas sector.
The DSR directs dam owners to ensure proper construction, inspection, and maintenance for the purpose of ensuring public safety, and preventing damage to property and the environment. Per the DSR, dam owners with a dam having a consequence rating classification of significant, high, very high or extreme must develop, maintain and submit a Dam Emergency Plan (DEP) to the Regulator.
In order to maintain the structure and organization of emergency response processes and plans already in place under the Oil and Gas Activities Act (OGAA), dam owners who are also OGAA permit holders and who operate dams with a consequence classification that requires a DEP, must now combine the DEP with their existing Emergency Response Plan (ERP).
While low consequence dams do not require a DEP, they should be added to the list of assets owned by the license holder in the applicable field supplemental plan.
Dam owners, who are not OGAA permit holders, and that do not have an existing DEP, must develop, maintain and submit a DEP that addresses all requirements as outlined in the DSR.
Please refer to the current version of the Emergency Management Manual (EMM) for complete guidance documentation for DEP composition.
For further information regarding this Information Bulletin, please contact:
Jennifer Liddicoat
Emergency Management Analyst, Security and Emergency Management
BC Energy Regulator
250-794-5268
Justin Anderson
Authorizations Manager, Permit Adjudication
BC Energy Regulator
250-794-5243