We are seeking feedback on proposed changes to Directive 071: Emergency Preparedness and Response, Manual 026: Emergency Preparedness and Response Guide, and three new associated forms.
Directive 071 sets out the requirements for emergency preparedness and response for activities regulated under the Oil and Gas Conservation Act (OGCA), Pipeline Act, Oil Sands Conservation Act (OSCA), Coal Conservation Act (CCA), Geothermal Resource Development Act (GRDA), and Mineral Resources Development Act (MRDA) unless explicitly excluded. The directive will now apply to operations of different sizes, types, and hazards regardless of the duty holder’s energy and resource development activities or the phase of the development’s life cycle. Manual 026 provides guidance, explanation, and expectations to enable a duty holder to meet the requirements of Directive 071. The new forms will be used to establish a level of certainty in the duty holder’s emergency management program (EMP) by
- conveying management’s commitment and accountability for the EMP,
- providing industry with a means to self-assess and continually improve their EMP, and
- verifying accountability for the hazard identification and consequence analysis report by having a licensed professional sign off.
The proposed directive includes the following revisions:
- The directive’s scope has been expanded:
- Includes all activities under the OGCA, Pipeline Act, OSCA, CCA, GRDA, and MRDA and not just wells, facilities, and caverns as defined in the OGCA and pipelines defined in the Pipeline Act. Activities refer to any activity regardless of the phase of the development’s life cycle (i.e., not limited to operations).
- Includes all applicable hazards that could result in an emergency requiring public safety and environmental protection measures, not just those from hydrogen sulphide and high-vapor-pressure products.
- All duty holders within the scope of this directive are to have an EMP.
- Duty holders are to perform hazard identification and consequence analysis to identify potential emergency scenarios associated with their operations (both human and natural causes of emergencies) and to consider the potential consequences for both public and environmental receptors.
- The requirements in sections 4 and 10 (Emergency Preparedness Involving the Public and Local Authority) for emergency preparedness involving the public and appropriate authorities have been revised to promote efficiency and reflect feedback from the public, appropriate authorities, and industry.
- Spill contingency plan requirements are now in section 5 (Preparation of Emergency Response Plans), and requirements for spill response equipment training are in section 6 (Training).
- The requirements in section 7 (Exercises) have been strengthened to promote effective exercises and continual improvement.
- The assessment matrix for incident classification in appendix 4 has been revised to improve consistency in communication and response.
Manual 026 has been revised to reflect and support the proposed changes in Directive 071.
To provide feedback on the proposed revised Directive 071, Manual 026, and the forms, complete the public comment form on our website. Comments in other formats can be emailed to D071UpdateProject@aer.ca or mailed to Alberta Energy Regulator, Suite 1000, 250 – 5 Street SW, Calgary, Alberta T2P 0R4. Feedback will be accepted through November 25, 2024.
All feedback received will be reviewed and may be used in finalizing Directive 071, Manual 026, and the forms. The comments provided through this consultation will form part of the public record and may be attributed to the specific individuals who provided them. Personal information provided with comments will be collected, used, and disclosed in accordance with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. We may use the personal contact information you provide for follow-up communication related to your feedback.
The revised edition of Directive 071, Manual 026, and the forms are available on our website at www.aer.ca > Regulating Development > Rules and Directives > Directives. If you have any questions, contact our Customer Contact Centre by phone at 1-855-297-8311 or by email at inquiries@aer.ca.
