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Amendments have been made to the Oil and Gas Activities Act (OGAA) that strengthen invasive plants management, through a requirement to prepare and maintain an invasive plant compliance record.

DATE ISSUED: June 29, 2023

EFFECTIVE DATE: Immediately

The BC Energy Regulator (BCER) is committed to protecting the environment and ensuring the integrity of native vegetation.

Effective June 12, 2023, amendments have been made to regulations under the Oil and Gas Activities Act (OGAA) that strengthen invasive plants management through the introduction of a requirement that permit holders prepare and maintain an invasive plant compliance record.

  • This record must contain:
    • The assessment and monitoring activities carried out for the purpose of determining whether invasive plants are present or established, may become present or established, or have spread to adjacent areas.
    • The location, type, and distribution of each invasive plant species found.
    • The activities carried out for the purpose of preventing transportation and establishment of invasive plants (full, seeds, propagules, or parts of plant), including removal of invasive plants.
    • Revegetation activities carried out, including plant species used.
    • The activities carried out to ensure revegetated plants are successfully established.
    • The dates on which all these activities were carried out.
    • The processes and equipment used for these activities.
    • The qualifications of the persons carrying out assessment and monitoring activities and supervising these activities.

An invasive plant compliance record is a prescribed record under Section 38 of OGAA. Permit holders must prepare and maintain these records and be prepared to produce or submit the records at the request of the BCER.

The amendments apply to activities under the following regulations:

  • Dormancy and Shutdown Regulation
  • Drilling and Production Regulation
  • Geophysical Exploration Regulation
  • Liquified Natural Gas Facility Regulation
  • Oil and Gas Processing Facility Regulation
  • Oil and Gas Road Regulation
  • Pipeline Regulation

The BCER is preparing updates to existing guidance and other documentation, which will be published shortly.

The BCER seeks to engage with Indigenous Nations throughout the regulatory development process, including for this regulatory update.

If you have any questions regarding this Technical Update, please contact:

April Wynne-Chesniak

Executive Director, Regulatory Affairs

BC Energy Regulator

Regulatoryaffairs@bc-er.ca

1-250-980-6082