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 objective of the Frontier and Offshore Regulatory Renewal Initiative (FORRI) is regulatory renewal and modernization.

The Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Area Petroleum Operations Framework Regulations (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 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)

In conjunction with the Framework Regulations, the C-NLOPB has updated its entire suite of regulatory aids, 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 guidelines are now available:

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

To view updated regulatory materials, please visit the pages below:

• Authorizations and Approvals

• Forms

• Guidelines and Interpretation Notes

• Regulations

• Substitutions and Exemptions