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DATE ISSUED: Sept. 29, 2021

EFFECTIVE DATE: Sept. 1, 2021

The BC Energy Regulator (Regulator) has approved amendments to the Emergency Management Regulation (EMR). These changes are in effect as of Sept. 1, 2021.

The amendments are summarized below:

  • A full-scale exercise must be conducted before the start-up (leave to open) for a new facility or transmission pipeline.
  • When the Regulator observes and evaluates an exercise, it can require specific follow-up action where an exercise demonstrates unsatisfactory capacity to protect public safety or establish control of the incident.
  • Information relating to an emergency response plan is required to be provided to local Indigenous nations, to ensure they are included in emergency planning, including consideration of any cultural sites likely to be used by their members.
  • The determination of Emergency Planning Zones is updated to provide more flexibility in calculating the hazard planning distances for special sour and acid gas wells while limiting the use of Transport Canada’s Emergency Response Guidebook.
  • Airport operators must be provided information relating to an emergency response plan and must have their contact information included in an emergency response plan where there is overlap between an emergency response zone and an airport zoning area.
  • Updates to spill reporting requirements to address recent changes to the Spill Reporting Regulation under the Environmental Management Act.
  • Enhancements to emergency response by clarifying the timelines required to report emergencies to the Regulator, the obligation to respond to an emergency in accordance with an emergency response plan and clarifying the incident classification matrix.

The Regulator is preparing updates to the existing Emergency Management Manual, which will be published shortly.

If you have any questions regarding this Industry Bulletin, please contact:

Peter Dalton
Director, Security & Emergency Management
BC Energy Regulator
Peter.Dalton@bcogc.ca
250-794-5231

Andrew Morgan
Executive Director, Regulatory Affairs
BC Energy Regulator
Regulatoryaffairs@bcogc.ca
250-419-4441