Keeping Tabs on Industry Compliance

Curious about what incidents, investigations, and enforcement actions are happening in Alberta’s oil and gas sector? Well the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) has a tool for you.

The AER’s Compliance Dashboard gives Albertans a better picture of how we respond to incidents, enforce the rules, and follow through with companies when the rules are not followed.

When I see how much has been added to the dashboard since its launch in 2014, I feel proud of the work done by AER staff to let operators know when they are not obeying the rules and the measures taken to get them to get back into compliance.

Jannette Wombold, enforcement support

"Sharing AER information related to the incidents, major investigations, and enforcement actions helps build trust outside the AER", notes Jannette Wombold, enforcement support at the AER. “It gives confidence and sense of security that we as a regulator are working hard to ensure oil, gas, and coal development in Alberta is done responsibly.”

The online dashboard includes information that is already publicly available in various locations, but is also available to all in one easy-to-access place—the AER’s website.

The dashboard has clearly hit the mark as more than 300 people visit it per day, and it includes a lot of great features. Here are five important things to know:

1. Old or new, there’s information for you. The dashboard shows past and current information—including historical data from as far back as 2014. “When I see how much has been added to the dashboard since its launch in 2014, I feel proud of the work done by AER staff to let operators know when they are not obeying the rules and the measures taken to get them to get back into compliance,” says Wombold.
    
2. Search for information that affects you. Curious about the operations occurring close to home? You can search the dashboard by company, date, status, and more, so you can sift through the information that is relevant to you.
    
3. Learn about recent incidents. The AER is committed to protecting the public and the environment, and it monitors and responds to energy-related incidents 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We post information as soon as possible after it’s received. 
   The incident tab provides Albertans with information about energy incidents in the province, including information about
   • reportable releases that involve hydrogen sulphide;
   • reportable releases that affect a water body;
   • reportable releases of hydrocarbon or produced water that travel off lease or that are on pipeline rights-of-way; and
   • seismic events of 4.0 local magnitude or more in the Duvernay geological zone.
      
4. Investigate an investigation. When it appears that a company has not followed AER requirements, the regulator takes steps to stop the noncompliant activity and restore the environment, and if necessary, it takes enforcement action against the responsible party.
   
   Investigations are posted when the AER has a reasonable belief that an offence has occurred, a responsible company has been identified, and a notice of investigation has been sent to that party. Information about the nocompliance includes the company name, the operation type and its location and status, and the alleged contraventions.


5. See how the AER enforces the rules. When requirements are not followed, the AER has a powerful suite of enforcement tools to ensure that a company immediately fixes any problems and follows the requirements in the future. The AER is active across the province, holding industry training sessions, conducting inspections, carrying out audits, and completing investigations.
   
   Reporting on the compliance and enforcement tab occurs typically within two business days of the AER issuing a compliance or enforcement response and includes
   • enforcement decisions, such as warning letters, administrative penalties, and prosecution;
   • administrative sanctions, such as imposition of terms and conditions;
   • any notice of noncompliance that includes a suspension of operations;
   • suspension or cancellation of an approval;
   • cancellation of a reclamation certificate; and
   • orders issued to compel compliance or remediation.

Jessica Herzog, Writer