BACKGROUND
The Frontier and Offshore Regulatory Renewal Initiative (FORRI) was established in 2005 with the objective of regulatory renewal and modernization. It is led by Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) with partici­pation from other federal, provincial and regulatory organizations including the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board (C-NLOPB), Canada Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board (CNSOPB) and Canada Energy Regulator (CER).

The proposed Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Area Petroleum Operations Framework Regulations were published in Canada-Gazette, Part 2, Volume 158, Number 5 on February 28, 2024 and can be viewed here.

The Framework Regulations modernize existing regulatory requirements from a prescriptive approach to a hybrid approach where performance-based requirements are used to the extent pos­sible, while maintaining prescriptive requirements where necessary.

The Framework Regulations will replace the following prescriptive regulations:

• Newfoundland Offshore Petroleum Installation Regu­lations (SOR/95-104)
• Newfoundland Offshore Certificate of Fitness Regula­tions (SOR/95-100)
• Newfoundland Offshore Area Petroleum Geophysical Operations Regulations (SOR/95-334)
• Newfoundland Offshore Petroleum Drilling and Pro­duction Regulations (SOR/2009-316)
• Newfoundland Offshore Area Oil and Gas Operations Regulations 14 (SOR/88-347)

PUBLIC CONSULTATION
To provide clarity and alignment among regulators, governments, industry and stakeholders with respect to the regulators’ interpretation of the new regulations, possible means of compliance and other considerations, the following guidance has been developed by the C-NLOPB and CNSOPB and are now available for public consultation:

• Guideline for the Framework Regulations
• Safety Plan Guideline
• Environmental Protection Plan Guideline
• Contingency Plan Guideline
• Guideline for Petroleum Related Authorizations and Approvals

Guideline for the Framework Regulations (Joint with CNSOPB)
To supplement the performance and prescriptive based regulations, guidance has been created for each section of the regulation to provide clarity on how the regulatory requirements can be achieved.

• Guideline for Framework Regulations

Safety Plan Guideline (Joint with CNSOPB)
Historically, Safety Plans have been required to be submitted for production projects and drilling programs. As the Framework Regulations are now applicable to all works and activities, the Safety Plan Guideline has been revised.

• Safety Plan Guideline

Environmental Protection Plan Guideline (Joint with CNSOPB)
Historically, Environmental Protection Plans have been required to be submitted for production projects and drilling programs. As the Framework Regulations are now applicable to all works and activities, the Environmental Protection Plan Guideline has been revised.

• Environmental Protection Plan Guideline

Contingency Plan Guideline (Joint with CNSOPB)
Historically, Contingency Plans have been required to be submitted for production projects and drilling programs. As the Framework Regulations are now applicable to all works and activities, the Contingency Plan Guideline has been revised.

• Contingency Plan Guideline

Guideline for Petroleum Related Authorizations and Approvals (C-NLOPB Only)
To supplement the new regulations and in consideration of the requirements under the Canada-Newfoundland Atlantic Accord Implementation Act and the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Atlantic Accord Implementation (Newfoundland and Labrador) Act, its subordinate legislation and other applicable federal and provincial legislative requirements, the C-NLOPB has developed a guideline to explain the roles, responsibilities and authorization, approval and reporting requirements based on the scope of activities proposed to be undertaken. Similar guidance is being considered by the CNSOPB for development at a later date.

• Guideline for Petroleum Related Authorizations and Approvals

SUBMITTING COMMENTS
Comments are to be submitted in the following template. Each item should include the document name and section number.

• Comments Template

Comments may be submitted via email to information@cnlopb.ca. Upon receipt, all submissions will be shared between the C-NLOPB and CNSOPB. Comments forwarded to any other address of the C-NLOPB will not be considered.

The deadline for comments is July 2, 2024.

Questions regarding this consultation can be forwarded to Alicia Curran, C-NLOPB Communications Coordinator at acurran@cnlopb.ca.

• Active Public Consultations
• Closed Public Consultations