Canadian Energy Regulator Onshore Pipeline Regulations, Orders and Guidance

The Canadian Energy Regulator Onshore Pipeline Regulations (OPR) are made under the Canadian Energy Regulator Act. Companies are responsible for meeting the requirements of the OPR to manage safety, security and environmental protection throughout the entire lifecycle of their facilities, from design, through to construction, operation and abandonment.

Regulations

• Canadian Energy Regulator Onshore Pipeline Regulations (SOR/99-294)
  • Regulations Amending Certain Regulations Made Under the National Energy Board Act (Miscellaneous Program) (SOR/2020-50) and the Regulatory Impact Analysis Statement were published in the Canada Gazette, Part II on 1 April 2020, Vol. 154, No. 7, pages 475-497.
• National Energy Board Onshore Pipeline Regulations (OPR) Amendments – Standing Joint Committee for the Scrutiny of Regulations
  In addition to the name and term changes made in the Regulations Amending Certain Regulations Made under the National Energy Board Act (Miscellaneous Program), the updates also include non-substantial amendments made to the OPR. The OPR amendments were made in response to the Standing Joint Committee for the Scrutiny of Regulations’ 2013 review entitled The Regulations Amending the National Energy Board Onshore Pipeline Regulations. For more details on changes made to the regulations, please see the Regulatory Impact Analysis Statement and the Regulations.
• For a summary of the 2020 Amendments made to the Onshore Pipeline Regulations, please consult the table.

Related Orders

• National Energy Board Order AO-001-MO-006-2016 which Varies Order MO-006-2016 Compelling Publication of Emergency Procedures Manuals [Filing A79720] (2018-01-17)
• National Energy Board Order MO-006-2016 Compelling Publication of Emergency Procedures Manuals [Filing A79720]
• Filing Emergency Procedures Manuals (2015-03-26)
• National Energy Board Order MO-08-2000 [PDF 45 KB]
  • Order for an exemption from section 17 of the Onshore Pipeline Regulations, non-destructive examination.

Guidance

OPR Guidance Notes

• Guidance Notes for the National Energy Board Onshore Pipeline Regulations (updated 15 November 2018)

Operations and Maintenance Activities

• Operations and Maintenance Activities on Pipelines Regulated Under the National Energy Board Act: Requirements and Guidance Notes – O&M Guidelines (2018-06-25)
  • Online Event Reporting System (OERS) – Operations and Maintenance (O&M) Notification – User Guide
• Operations and Maintenance Activities on Pipelines under the National Energy Board Act – Requirements and Guidance Notes (2015-07-17)
• Additional Information Requirements Relating to Fish and Fish Habitat and Navigation for Notifications of Operations and Maintenance (O&M) Activities (2015-02-19)
• Amendment to Regulation of Operations and Maintenance Activities on Pipelines under the National Energy Board Act
  The amendments are included in the attached revised O&M Guidelines, effective on 01 January 2013. (2012-11-20)

Pressure Vessels and Equipment

• Guidance Notes for Pressure Equipment under National Energy Board Jurisdiction (2003-08-08)
• Guidance Notes for the Design, Construction, Operation, and Abandonment of Pressure Vessels (2003-07-03)

Decommissioning

• Guidance Notes and Exemption Order – Decommissioning Provisions, Amendments to the Onshore Pipeline Regulations (OPR) and National Energy Board Processing Plant Regulations (PPR) (2014-12-05)

Reporting

• Changes to CER Online Event Reporting Guidelines
  • Canada Energy Regulator Event Reporting Guidelines
  • Results of consultation on the revisions to the CER Event Reporting Guidelines
  • Canada Energy Regulator Event Reporting Guidelines – Revised June 2020 [PDF 1134 KB]

Accountable Officer Appointment and Notification

Pursuant to section 6.2 of the Canadian Energy Regulator Onshore Pipeline Regulations (OPR), a company must appoint an accountable officer who has the authority over the company’s human and financial resources required to establish, implement and maintain its management system and protection programs, and to ensure that the company meets its obligations for safety, security and protection of the environment.

A company has 30 days to notify the CER of the name of its accountable officer after the appointment is made. The accountable officer must also submit a signed statement accepting the responsibilities of the position. This requirement is in effect for all CER-regulated companies, and this information will be made public. For information on how to select the accountable officer, and suggested template letters, please see Company Submission Requirements.

Forms and Templates

• OPR – Company Submission Requirements
  • Accountable Officer Notification – Template Letters
    • Accountable Officer Selection Flowchart
  • Annual Report Notification – Template Letter

ARCHIVED – Onshore Pipeline Regulations, Orders and Guidance

Date modified:

2021-04-09