If you live and work in Calgary you know that the city is a major hub for the oil and gas industry. It’s also home for the National Energy Board, the organization that provides regulatory oversight for the industry.
The National Energy Board (NEB) was established in 1959 to regulate interprovincial and international aspects of the oil, gas and electric utility industries within Canada. The NEB plays a vital part in Canada’s economy and also focuses on safety within the oil and gas industry. For a newcomer to the energy industry, the information can seem daunting and hard to follow with the jargon that generally only seasoned individuals in the industry completely understand. But to get you started, here is a Did You Know? fact sheet to help better understand the NEB.
Did you know that…
- The NEB was created to regulate the construction and operation of interprovincial and international pipelines; oil, gas and electricity exports; and tolls and tariffs. It is an “independent court of record”.
- The purpose of the NEB is to regulate the energy industry according to what is in Canada’s best interest?
- The NEB is held accountable to Parliament through the Minister of Natural Resources Canada?
- The NEB is directly responsible for the following:
- Efficient processing of applications
- Traffic, toll and tariffs
- The export and import of energy
- Frontier oil and gas
- Northern Pipeline Agency
- Energy studies and advisory function
- The construction and operation of pipelines and power lines
Click here to learn more about the NEB responsibilities
Processing of applications: Did you know that…
- On July 6, 2012, the NEB added a time limit for the processing of applications under the following sections: 52, 58 and 58.16?
- A proposed project that involves construction or modification of facilities may require you to file an order pursuant to Section 58 or 52 of the NEB act?
- The NEB may exempt any pipelines, branches or extensions to pipelines, under 40 km?
- All applications under section 52 trigger a public hearing, either written or oral?
- The NEB is committed to continually reviewing and improving its regulatory processes to ensure that its decisions are made in the public interest?
Did you know that the NEB specifically looks at the following areas when reviewing applications?
- Public consultation
- Engineering
- Environment and socio-economics
- Economics
- Lands
Public participation and land matters: Did you know that…
- Companies can ask the NEB for input into planning and design of a project prior to submitting it to the Board?
- The NEB takes public comments into account when assessing applications?
- The public can participate in The Public Hearing Process in the following ways: write a letter of comment, make an oral statement or become an intervenor?
- The NEB assesses all aspects regarding environmental impacts of facility projects as well as seismic drilling applications?
- The NEB allows stakeholders to engage in their Board’s public process?
- When the NEB does an environmental assessment they consider many of the following factors:
- Physical and meteorological environment
- Soil, soil productivity and vegetation
- Wetlands, water quality and quantity
- Fish, wildlife, and their habitat
- Species at risk or species of special status and related habitat
- Heritage resources
- Traditional land and resource use
- Human health, aesthetics and noise
- Major pipeline projects will have a public hearing, where the Board will hear comments on environmental and socio-economic impacts, as well as other impacts or benefits of a project?
The NEB plays a vital role within the oil and gas industry, helping to ensure safe and efficient pipelines operations throughout Canada. Please feel free to add insight or share your thoughts about this post.
— Keeley Travland, Communica
