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Energy Safety and Security Act (S.C. 2015, c. 4)

Assented to 2015-02-26

 Section 5.2 of the Act is amended by adding the following after subsection (3):

  • Marginal note:Transboundary pool or field

    (4) The definitions in sections 29 and 48.15 apply in subsections (5) and (6).

  • Marginal note:Approval subject to agreement

    (5) A benefits plan submitted for approval in respect of a work or activity in a transboundary pool or field that is the subject of a joint exploitation agreement is not to be approved under subsection (2) unless the Minister and the appropriate regulator have agreed to its content.

  • Marginal note:Disagreement — Minister and regulator

    (6) The Minister or the regulator may, if they disagree about the content of the plan submitted for approval, refer the matter to an expert in accordance with section 48.27. The expert’s decision is deemed to be approval by the Minister of the plan.

Marginal note:2007, c. 35, s. 148

 Subsection 5.3(1) of the Act is replaced by the following:

Marginal note:Board guidelines and interpretation notes
  • 5.3 (1) The National Energy Board may issue and publish, in any manner the Board considers appropriate, guidelines and interpretation notes with respect to the application and administration of section 5, 5.1 and 13.02 and subsection 27(1.01) and any regulations made under section 4.2, 13.17 and 14.

Marginal note:2007, c. 35, s. 149

 Sections 5.34 and 5.35 of the Act are replaced by the following:

Marginal note:Public hearings

5.331 The National Energy Board may conduct a public hearing in relation to the exercise of any of its powers or the performance of any of its duties and functions under this Act.

Marginal note:Confidentiality

5.34 At any public hearing conducted under section 5.331 or in any proceedings with respect to Part 0.1, the National Energy Board may take any measures and make any order that it considers necessary to ensure the confidentiality of any information likely to be disclosed at the hearing or in the proceedings if the Board is satisfied that

  • (a) disclosure of the information could reasonably be expected to result in a material loss or gain to a person directly affected by the hearing or proceedings, or to prejudice the person’s competitive position, and the potential harm resulting from the disclosure outweighs the public interest in making the disclosure; or

  • (b) the information is financial, commercial, scientific or technical information that is confidential information supplied to the Board and

    • (i) the information has been consistently treated as confidential information by a person directly affected by the hearing or proceedings, and

    • (ii) the person’s interest in confidentiality outweighs the public interest in its disclosure.

Marginal note:Confidentiality — security

5.35 At any public hearing conducted under section 5.331 or in respect of any order, or in any proceedings, with respect to Part 0.1, the National Energy Board may take any measures and make any order that it considers necessary to ensure the confidentiality of information that is likely to be disclosed at the hearing or in the proceedings or is contained in the order if the Board is satisfied that

  • (a) there is a real and substantial risk that disclosure of the information will impair the security of pipelines, buildings, installations, vessels, vehicles, aircraft or systems, including computer or communication systems, or methods employed to protect them; and

  • (b) the need to prevent disclosure of the information outweighs the public interest in its disclosure.

Marginal note:Exception

5.351 The National Energy Board shall not take any measures or make any order under section 5.34 or 5.35 in respect of information or documentation referred to in paragraphs 101(7)(a) to (e) and (i) of the Canada Petroleum Resources Act.

Marginal note:1992, c. 35, s. 14
  •  (1) The portion of subsection 14(1) of the Act before paragraph (a) is replaced by the following:

    Marginal note:Governor in Council’s regulatory power
    • 14. (1) The Governor in Council may, for the purposes of safety, the protection of the environment, and accountability as well as for the production and conservation of oil and gas resources, make regulations

  • (2) Subsection 14(1) of the Act is amended by adding the following after paragraph (b):

    • (b.1) concerning the measures to be taken in preparation for or in the case of a spill, as defined in subsection 24(1), including measures concerning the use of a spill-treating agent;

    • (b.2) concerning the process for the determination of net environmental benefit;

    • (b.3) concerning the variation or revocation of an approval referred to in paragraph 25.1(1)(b);

  • (3) Subsection 14(1) of the Act is amended by striking out “and” at the end of paragraph (h) and by adding the following after that paragraph:

    • (h.1) establishing the requirements for a pooled fund for the purposes of subsection 27(1.01);

    • (h.2) concerning the circumstances under which the National Energy Board may make a recommendation for the purposes of subsection 27.1(1) and the information to be submitted with respect to that recommendation;

    • (h.3) concerning the creation, conservation and production of records; and

  • (4) Section 14 of the Act is amended by adding the following after subsection (2):

    • Marginal note:Spill-treating agents

      (3) Regulations made under subsection (1) respecting a spill-treating agent shall be made on the recommendation of the federal Ministers and the Minister of the Environment.

 The Act is amended by adding the following after section 14:

Marginal note:Amendments to Schedule 1 or 2
  • 14.1 (1) The Governor in Council may, by order, amend Schedule 1 or 2 to add, amend or remove a reference to a federal Act or regulation, or to a provision of a federal Act or regulation.

  • Marginal note:Recommendation

    (2) The order shall be made on the recommendation of the Minister and every minister responsible for the administration of the provision.

Marginal note:List of spill-treating agents

14.2 The Minister of the Environment may, by regulation, establish a list of spill-treating agents.

Marginal note:1992, c. 35, s. 22(1); 2001, c. 26, s. 324(10)

 Subsections 24(1) to (3) of the Act are replaced by the following:

Definition of “spill”

  • 24. (1) In sections 25 to 28, “spill” means a discharge, emission or escape of oil or gas, other than one that is authorized under subsection 25.4(1), the regulations or any other federal law. It does not include a discharge from a vessel to which Part 8 or 9 of the Canada Shipping Act, 2001 applies or from a ship to which Part 6 of the Marine Liability Act applies.

  • Definition of “actual loss or damage”

    (2) In section 26, “actual loss or damage” includes loss of income, including future income, and, with respect to any Aboriginal peoples of Canada, loss of hunting, fishing and gathering opportunities. It does not include loss of income recoverable under subsection 42(3) of the Fisheries Act.

  • Definition of “debris”

    (3) In sections 26 to 27 and 28, “debris” means any installation or structure that was put in place in the course of any work or activity required to be authorized under paragraph 5(1)(b) and that has been abandoned without an authorization that may be required by or under this Act, or any material that has broken away or been jettisoned or displaced in the course of any of that work or activity.

  •  (1) The Act is amended by adding the following after section 25:

    Marginal note:Spill-treating agents
    • 25.1 (1) In the case of a spill in the internal waters of Canada not within a province, the territorial sea of Canada or the waters superjacent to the continental shelf of Canada, the provisions referred to in Schedule 1 do not apply to the deposit of a spill-treating agent and those referred to in Schedule 2 do not apply in respect of any harm that is caused by the spill-treating agent or by the interaction between the spill-treating agent and the spilled oil, if

      • (a) the authorization issued under paragraph 5(1)(b) permits the use of the spill-treating agent;

      • (b) the Chief Conservation Officer approves the use of the agent in response to the spill and it is used in accordance with any requirements set out in the approval; and

      • (c) the agent is used for the purposes of subsection 25(3) or (4).

    • Marginal note:Clarification

      (2) The provisions referred to in Schedule 2 continue to apply to the holder of an authorization referred to in paragraph (1)(a) in respect of any harm that is caused by the spill or, despite subsection (1), by the interaction between the spill-treating agent and the spilled oil.

    • Marginal note:Net environmental benefit

      (3) Other than in the case of a small-scale test, the approval required under paragraph (1)(b) shall be in writing and shall not be granted unless the Chief Conservation Officer

      • (a) has consulted with the Minister and the Minister of the Environment with respect to the approval; and

      • (b) determines that the use of the agent is likely to achieve a net environmental benefit.

  • (2) Paragraph 25.1(1)(b) of the Act is replaced by the following:

    • (b) other than in the case of a small-scale test that meets the prescribed requirements, the Chief Conservation Officer approves in writing the use of the agent in response to the spill and it is used in accordance with any requirements set out in the approval;

  • (3) Subsection 25.1(1) of the Act is amended by striking out “and” at the end of paragraph (b), by adding “and” at the end of paragraph (c) and by adding the following after paragraph (c):

    • (d) the agent is used in accordance with the regulations.

  • (4) Subsection 25.1(3) of the Act is replaced by the following:

    • Marginal note:Net environmental benefit

      (3) Other than in the case of a small-scale test, the Chief Conservation Officer shall not approve the use of a spill-treating agent unless the Officer determines, taking into account any prescribed factors and any factors the Officer considers appropriate, that the use of the spill-treating agent is likely to achieve a net environmental benefit.

 

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