May 24, 2011, Calgary – The National Energy Board (NEB) has released a new guide directing energy companies in the clean up of groundwater and soil contamination.
The Remediation Process Guide, released last week, was drafted following an extensive consultation period in 2010, including a public technical meeting.
“The regulation of safe and secure energy facilities is the NEB’s number one goal,” said NEB Chair and CEO Gaetan Caron. “If an NEB-regulated facility experiences a spill, the site must be cleaned up to the satisfaction of the Board.”
The new guide calls for companies to address contamination regardless of whether it is reportable or not and whether it occurred recently or is an historic event. Companies are to conduct an environmental site assessment and submit appropriate remediation plans for approval by the NEB. Approved plans must explain how the company will clean up a contaminated site.
The NEB requires that the company follows the most stringent provincial or federal criteria for remediation when setting targets in their clean-up plans. Once cleanup is complete, a remediation closure report is to be filled to confirm that criteria have been met.
The NEB is an independent federal regulator of several parts of Canada’s energy industry. Its purpose is to regulate pipelines, energy development and trade in the Canadian public interest.
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