British Columbians now have a new
Oil and Gas Activities Act, designed to streamline and expedite the regulatory process required for oil and gas projects in the province. The Oil and Gas Commission (OGC) says about the Act:
The Oil and Gas Activities Act (OGAA) reflects a shift toward the future of oil and gas activity in British Columbia. Technological advances, interest in unconventional gas, and increased social and environmental expectations are driving the industry forward. In response, the province developed a new regulatory framework. A process that started with extensive consultations with communities, landowners, First Nations, environmental groups and industry ended with streamlined, enhanced legislation reflecting the needs of the people, environment, industry and government.
In governmental newspeak, the new Act sounds like a way to speed up the approval of new energy projects in B.C. The OGC's primer on the new Act is available at:
OGAA Primer. The Act as it looked when it passed third reading in the Legislature is available at:
2008 Act. I will post a link to the final version of the Act when it becomes available on the web.
Because of a 6ft. high gas valve on my building lot It has become unsaleable. Potential loss $180,000. No permission was given for it, no permit taken out, it is in a dangerous location yet NO agency has had any success getting a commitment to have it removed. What now?
ReplyDeleteR. Smith
Assuming that the gas valve belongs to a private entity, it is likely that the only way it can be in place legally is through agreement or by statutory authority. Your comment seems to indicate that there is no agreement and no statutory authority, since no agency has been successful in getting it removed. If the private entity has no right to have the valve there, then the Court could make an order requiring its removal. It sounds, though, as if there is more to the story than that.
ReplyDelete