EFFECTIVE DATE: March 2, 2021

The BC Energy Regulator has developed a new best practices guideline for the management of light emanating from oil and gas activities.

This guideline is intended to describe regulatory requirements for managing light emissions from well and facility operations as set out in the Drilling & Production Regulation, section 40, and the Liquefied Natural Gas Facility Regulation, section 4(1)(e), and section 15.

The objective is to assist permit holders with controlling light from their operations and to prevent, “excessive emanation of light,” so well and facility operations comply with the requirements.

For the purposes of the guideline, excessive emanation of light is defined as light which is in excess of that required for site security and safe operations, and which causes a material adverse impact to a person.

The International Regulator on Illumination (CIE) 150 Guide on the Limitation of the Effects of Obtrusive Light from Outdoor Lighting Installations can be used by permit holders for guidance on meeting the requirement to not cause excessive emanation of light from well or facility operations.

The efforts made to reduce excessive light emissions at temporary and permanent oil and gas activities typically include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Minimizing the amount of lighting required while ensuring safe operation
  of the well or facility,
• Minimizing brightness of lights to the extent practicable,
• Using automated sensors which shut down lighting in areas of no activity,
  where it is safe to do so (e.g. nighttime hours - normal operations),
• Re-angling, shading, or screening of lighting, and
• To the extent practicable, directing site lighting downward and inward, and shielded to avoid glare at receptors.

When reviewing the potential for excessive light from a proposed well or facility activity, the permit holder may be required to prepare a light assessment as outlined in section 2.1 of the guideline. If a light assessment is completed, the findings need to be included in the permit application submitted to the BC Energy Regulator.

If you have any questions regarding this bulletin, please contact:

For Facilities:

James Gladysz, P.L. Eng.
Technical Leader, Facilities
BC Energy Regulator
James.Gladysz@bcogc.ca
250-980-6079

For Drilling and Completions:

Jordan van Besouw, P.Eng.
Supervisor, Drilling and Production
BC Energy Regulator
Jordan.vanBesouw@bcogc.ca
250-980-6089