Government of the Northwest Territories We want to know what you - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Public meeting (COMMUNITY NAME) Government of the Northwest Territories

We want to know what you think.

• This is a public engagement meeting.

Your ideas and opinions are important.

• We are seeking input directly from

Aboriginal governments.

• HFRegulations@gov.nt.ca

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What we’ve heard over many years

• We have held hundreds of meetings to talk about

land use, resource management, water stewardship, and economic development.

• Northern priorities related to oil and gas

development are consistent:

– Protect the environment (especially water and air) – Disclosure and reporting – Economic benefits to local communities

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Proposed regulations would tighten existing requirements for:

• Baseline surface and groundwater information
• Public disclosure
• Measures to address air quality
• Reporting

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Resource and Land Management in the Northwest Territories

• Devolution gave NWT residents more

responsibility for the regulatory system.

– Rights in respect of water – Land – Mineral and petroleum resources

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We have a flexible, northern approach to decision-making

• Public process that ensures the community is heard.
• Respects the roles of Aboriginal governments.
• Considers all of the needs: environmental, economic,

social, cultural.

• Sets requirements that are right for that operation.
• Reporting, monitoring, and inspections to make sure

industry is complying.

• Takes enforcement actions where appropriate.

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Land and Water Regulation

• A coordinated system that ensures the effects of human

activities are fully considered.

– Biological, physical, social, cultural, economic effects

• Territorial and federal legislation
• Land claims agreements

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Environmental impact assessments

No permits or licences can be issued until the EIA requirements of the MVRMA are met

• Environmental impact assessment processes are public
• All records are posted to Land and Water or Review Board

public registries

• Public attend public meetings and hearings, ask proponents

questions, provide written and public evidence to boards

• GNWT’s role is guided by public legislation and policy
• Environmental assessments: Individuals or groups may also

apply to MVEIRB for party status

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EA decisions

• The Responsible Ministers (territorial and federal) must

reach consensus.

• Crown’s duty to consult Aboriginal peoples must be met
• 5 month time limit for most EA decisions

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Regulatory Process – Post EA

• Government and all regulatory authorities must act in

conformity with the government’s decision on the Review Board's recommendation.

– Permits, licences, and authorizations must conform with EA decision

• There may be additional public processes.

– Review of draft land use permit, water licence reviews and hearings

• GNWT inspects and enforces terms and conditions of land

use permits and water licences

• Non-compliance with a permit or licence is an offence

(fines, jail time, or both)

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Water Licensing

• The Minister of Environment and Natural Resources

now has authority for water, including the approval

• f all Type A and Type B water licences (where a

public hearing is held).

• Through water stewardship and partnership, we can

all work together to make sure the waters of the NWT remain clean, abundant and productive for all time.

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Cumulative Impact Monitoring

• Cumulative Impact Monitoring is a statutory requirement as

part of the MVRMA and is a treaty obligation under the Gwich’in, Sahtu, and Tlicho land claim agreements.

• Generates information on the cumulative impact of uses of

land and water and deposits of waste on the environment, so that decision-makers and communities can make more informed resource management decisions.

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Environmental Audits

• Requirement of the Mackenzie Valley Resource Management

Act and a treaty obligation under the Gwich’in, Sahtu and Tlicho land claim agreements.

• Conducted by an independent auditor.
• Reviews effectiveness of programs and processes related to

monitoring cumulative impacts and effectiveness of the regulation of land and water use and the deposit of waste in the Mackenzie Valley.

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Regulation of Oil and Gas Activities

• Protect human health and safety and

environment as a result of activities undertaken to develop petroleum resources

– Issue authorizations – Respond to incidents – Inspections and compliance

• Two regulators: OROGO and the NEB

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Current monitoring & research related to hydraulic fracturing in the NWT

• Seismic Monitoring
• Inventory of Landscape Change
• Watershed Framework for Assessing Cumulative Impacts
• Sahtu Environmental Research and Monitoring Forum
• Benthic Invertebrate Samples
• Central Mackenzie Surface Water and Groundwater

Baseline Assessment

• Caribou Genetic Diversity Population Study
• Forest Succession and Regeneration Initiative
• State of Spatial Knowledge Project
• Traditional Knowledge initiatives

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Hydraulic Fracturing Filing Regulations

Why Develop Hydraulic Fracturing Filing Regulations?

• Current requirements do not address northerners’

most common environmental or reporting concerns.

• Tremendous shale oil and gas potential in the NWT.
• Commitment to ongoing regulatory enhancement.

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Hydraulic Fracturing Process

Background

• Many meetings with communities, Aboriginal governments, NWT

leadership and stakeholders to determine priorities for land and resource management, environmental protection, and economic development.

• Research into national and international best practices
• Identified four Northern priority subject areas not adequately

covered by inherited NEB filing requirements:

• Baseline surface and groundwater information
• Public disclosure of chemical additives and fracture fluids
• Air quality
• Enhanced reporting and disclosure (pre- and post-fracture)

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Regulations

• Describe the information that the proponent is required to

file with their application.

• Apply in the onshore NWT except the Norman Wells

Proven Area and other federal areas.

• Provide the information the regulator needs to make

decisions.

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Content of Regulations

The regulations will require applicants to submit the following materials with their applications for an operating authorization:

• a risk assessment
• an environmental protection plan
• a spill contingency plan
• an all-season well pad plan (if all-season well pads will be

used)

• an inter-well distance plan
• an indication of whether the applicant is willing to prepare

and publicly disclose certain reports

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Content of Regulations

The regulations will require applicants to submit the following materials with their applications for a well approval:

• an operations plan
• a description of geophysical hazards
• a description of the oil and gas target formations
• a hydraulic fracturing program design
• a description of the way suspected seismic events will be monitored and reported
• a drilling program demonstrating water protection measures
• a description of the well casing and cementing
• a description of the well control system
• a demonstration of the operator’s ability to drill a relief well
• a description of the proposed well completion
• a demonstration that all possible hydraulic fracturing design variables have been considered
• a description of the well hydraulic fracturing equipment and operation
• a description of the formation flow testing program

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Timelines For Development of Regulations

• Draft Regulations published.
• Minimum 90 day public review and engagement

period – April to June includes: Intergovernmental Council, Aboriginal Governments, Oil and Gas Regulators (NEB, OROGO), Public, Industry, NGOs.

• Make changes to Regulations as a result of input

received.

• Cabinet will make the final decision.

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Thank you.

Questions?

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