Oil and Gas Commission

The BC Oil and Gas Commission (Commission) is an independent, single-window regulatory agency with responsibilities for overseeing oil and gas operations in British Columbia, including exploration, development, pipeline transportation and reclamation.

The Commission was created as a Crown Corporation through the enactment of the Oil and Gas Commission Act. In October 2010, the Commission transitioned to the Oil and Gas Activities Act. This regulatory model is designed to provide a streamlined one-stop regulatory agency. Regulatory responsibility is delegated to the Commission through the Oil and Gas Activities Act and includes specified enactments under the Forest Act, Heritage Conservation Act, Land Act, Environmental Management Act, and Water Act. The cost of operating the Commission is funded through the application of industrial fees and levies on a cost recovery basis.

The Commission’s core roles include reviewing and assessing applications for industry activity, consulting with First Nations, ensuring industry complies with provincial legislation and cooperating with partner agencies. The public interest is protected through the objectives of ensuring public safety, protecting the environment, conserving petroleum resources and ensuring equitable participation in production.^{[citation needed]}

Regulatory responsibility of the Commission extends from the exploration and development phases, through to facilities operation and ultimately decommissioning. It is charged with balancing a broad range of environmental, economic and social considerations.

External links

• Oil and Gas Commission - official site