Global regulations corpus
Browse 22,870 regulations from 36 regulators
4,065 updated in the last 30 days. Public corpus — no signup required to read.
Showing 51–82 of 82 regulations
Companies only
Section 179 of the Canadian Energy Regulator Act restricts pipeline construction, operation, and abandonment to registered companies only. Existing pipelines built before October 1, 1953 may be operated or improved by any person, provided they comply fully with the Act.
Approval
Pipeline companies must obtain a Canadian Energy Regulator certificate before constructing any pipeline section, comply with all certificate conditions, secure Regulator approval of construction plans and specifications, and deposit certified copies in relevant land registries.
Additional material to be deposited
Pipeline companies must deposit additional materials with the Canadian Energy Regulator beyond standard filings, including plans, specifications, and drawings for pipeline components, as required by the regulator.
Regulations
Section 221 of the Canadian Energy Regulator Act authorizes the Governor in Council to establish regulations for pipeline sections crossing navigable waters, covering design, construction, operation, safety, security, deviations, relocation, and abandonment. Violations are prosecutable as summary conviction offences.
Existing terms and conditions
Section 222 of the Canadian Energy Regulator Act deems all terms and conditions imposed on pipelines before July 3, 2013 under the National Energy Board Act to be conditions of CER certificates or orders. Pipeline companies must construct pipelines according to previously specified orders, regulations, plans, and specifications, or as directed by the Commission.
Costs and expenses related to abandonment
The Canadian Energy Regulator may require pipeline companies to establish and maintain financial funds or security to ensure they can pay for pipeline abandonment and related costs. The Regulator can direct use of these funds, authorize third parties to access them, realize security to cover abandonment expenses, and allocate any surplus to the Orphan Pipelines Account.
Orphan abandoned pipelines
Under the Canadian Energy Regulator Act, a designated officer may designate an abandoned pipeline as an orphan abandoned pipeline when the owning company's directors, officers, or the company itself cannot be located, or when the company is unknown, insolvent, bankrupt, in receivership, or dissolved.
Measures
Section 245 of the Canadian Energy Regulator Act authorizes designated officers to take necessary measures for orphan pipeline abandonment and to delegate authority to employees or third parties. The Regulator, its staff, Crown agents, and authorized third parties are granted liability protection for good-faith actions or omissions during abandonment activities.
Application of certain provisions
Section 266 of the Canadian Energy Regulator Act extends pipeline regulatory provisions to international and interprovincial power lines. Applicants and permit/certificate holders must follow intervention, certification, and permitting procedures under specified sections. Deviations crossing navigable waters require heightened scrutiny under section 211. Abandonment provisions do not apply to power lines.
Certificate or order before June 1, 1990
The Canadian Energy Regulator Act applies pipeline governance provisions to international power lines that received certificates before June 1, 1990 under the former National Energy Board Act, treating electricity transmission infrastructure under the same regulatory framework while excluding abandoned power lines from abandoned pipeline definitions.
Exercise of powers outside Canada
Canadian pipeline companies may exercise their regulatory and operational powers beyond Canada's international boundary, but only to the extent permitted by applicable foreign laws in the jurisdiction where the pipeline operates.
Crown lands
Pipeline companies must obtain Governor in Council consent to take possession of, use, or occupy Crown lands in Canada. With consent, companies may appropriate necessary Crown lands and water for pipeline construction and operation. Compensation for lands held in trust must be applied to the trust's purpose. Exemptions apply for pipelines with prior authorizations and those crossing utilities or navigable waters with proper certificates.
Consent of Yukon first nation or Governor in Council
Under Canadian Energy Regulator Act section 318, energy companies must obtain consent from relevant Yukon First Nations or the Gwich'in Tribal Council before using settlement land or Tetlit Gwich'in Yukon land. If consent is denied, the Governor in Council may authorize use after a public hearing with notice to affected parties. Companies must compensate First Nations for land use or injurious effects from pipeline construction.
Notice of proposed acquisition or lease of lands
Pipeline companies must notify all identifiable landowners of lands required for pipeline construction or operation, providing detailed descriptions of required lands, compensation valuations, route approval procedures, and dispute resolution options. Pre-notice agreements are void, and companies are liable for all damages if they subsequently abandon acquisition or lease plans.
Orders of Commission
The Canadian Energy Regulator may issue orders determining compensation for pipeline and abandoned pipeline projects, including land acquisition, leasing, use restrictions, and damages from company activities during planning, construction, operation, or abandonment phases, with compensation assessments guided by statutory factors.
Examination of site of mining operations
Under the Canadian Energy Regulator Act, pipeline companies may enter mining or prospecting sites within or near their rights-of-way with 24 hours' written notice and regulatory authorization to inspect whether operations pose safety or security risks to the pipeline or persons. Companies may use site equipment to measure distances from the pipeline to operations.
Compensation for severance, etc., of mining property
Pipeline companies must pay compensation as determined by the Canadian Energy Regulator to mining property owners, lessees, and occupiers for losses caused by pipeline severance, including prevented or interrupted mining operations, access restrictions, operational modifications to protect the pipeline, and inaccessible minerals.
Security regulations
The Canadian Energy Regulator is authorized to establish security regulations for pipelines, international power lines, and offshore renewable energy projects, including standards, plans, and audit requirements. Violations are criminal offences with penalties up to $100,000 and one year imprisonment on summary conviction, or $500,000 and five years on indictment, though a due diligence defence is available.
Public hearings
Section 52 of the Canadian Energy Regulator Act mandates public hearings for decisions to issue, suspend, or revoke certificates for interprovincial and international pipelines and power lines. Exceptions apply when certificate holders consent to suspension or revocation of non-operational facilities. The Commission may discretionarily hold public hearings on other matters and must publicly disclose its reasoning.
Confidentiality
Section 61 of the Canadian Energy Regulator Act authorizes the Commission and designated officers to issue confidentiality orders protecting sensitive information from public disclosure when disclosure poses a real and substantial risk to pipeline, power line, or offshore renewable energy infrastructure security, protective systems, or public safety.
Application
Section 160 of the Canadian Energy Regulator Act establishes a compensation claims tribunal where persons, organizations, governments, and Indigenous governing bodies may file claims for damages caused by pipeline releases from designated companies within prescribed timeframes. The Tribunal Chairperson must promptly assign claims to panels and notify all relevant parties.
Limitation
Canadian Energy Regulator Act section 241 requires pipeline companies to obtain Commission approval before abandoning any pipeline. Companies must notify affected landowners and publish notices in local media. Mandatory public hearings apply if written opposition is filed unless withdrawn or deemed frivolous. The Commission may impose conditions on abandonment approvals, and companies remain liable for abandoned pipelines.
Relocation
The Canadian Energy Regulator may order holders of international or interprovincial power line permits or certificates to relocate infrastructure when necessary to facilitate construction or relocation of other facilities. The regulator determines cost allocation between parties, requires mandatory consultation procedures, and may order reimbursement of reasonable costs incurred by persons making submissions.
Approval of deviations
Pipeline companies must submit detailed plans, profiles, and reference documentation to the Canadian Energy Regulator for approval of deviations from previously approved or constructed pipelines. The Regulator may exempt submission requirements if deviations serve public purposes or benefit the pipeline, provided deviations do not exceed Commission-specified distance limits from the original centerline.
Application of sections 317 and 318
Section 307 of the Canadian Energy Regulator Act extends regulatory sections 317 and 318 to offshore renewable energy projects and offshore power lines by substituting references to companies with persons and pipelines with offshore facilities, ensuring equivalent regulatory requirements.
Application of certain provisions
Section 290 of the Canadian Energy Regulator Act applies compliance provisions (sections 315–318 and 341) to international and interprovincial power lines subject to regulatory orders. Permit and certificate holders must comply, except for activities authorized by leave, facilities with existing certificate conditions, navigable water crossings, and authorizations issued before July 3, 2013.
Consent of council of the band
Section 317 of the Canadian Energy Regulator Act requires pipeline companies to obtain consent from Indigenous band councils before taking possession of, using, or occupying reserve lands for pipeline construction. Companies must also obtain Governor in Council approval for certain designated lands (Category IA-N, Category IA, and shíshálh lands). Companies must provide compensation if reserve or designated lands are taken, used, occupied, or adversely affected by pipeline construction.
Application for correction of errors
Under Canadian Energy Regulator Act section 208, pipeline companies must apply to the Regulator for a permit to correct any omissions, misstatements, or errors in registered plans, profiles, or books of reference. Once the Regulator issues a permit and certified copies are deposited with the appropriate land registry office, the documents are deemed corrected and pipeline construction may proceed in accordance with the correction.
Relocation
The Canadian Energy Regulator may order pipeline companies to relocate pipelines when necessary for safety, environmental protection, public infrastructure projects, or to prevent interference with drainage systems. The regulator determines cost allocation among parties, ensures procedural compliance with prior consultation requirements, and may award reasonable costs to regulatory proceeding participants.
Extension or improvement
The Canadian Energy Regulator may direct natural gas pipeline operators to extend or improve facilities to interconnect with local distribution networks and serve municipalities or adjacent communities, provided no undue burden is imposed on the operator and service to existing customers is not impaired.
Definitions
Section 93 of the Canadian Energy Regulator Act defines key terms for pipeline claims proceedings: compensable damage (costs, losses, and damages awarded by the Tribunal), holder (entities holding certificates, permits, or authorizations for regulated facilities, pipelines, power lines, or abandonment permits), and Tribunal (the pipeline claims tribunal).
West Import Resilience Project: Environmental determination
Environmental determination for the West Import Resilience Project, covering a new 9km gas pipeline section between Wormington and Honeybourne and a 2km section in Churchover, UK.