Register for another OPW Connects webinar!
Register for another OPWA Connects webinar!
Join us for another OPWA Connects event as the Canada Energy Regulator (CER) discusses regulations and safe work practices near federally regulated pipelines.
Natural gas and oil transmission pipelines that cross provincial or federal borders are regulated by the Canada Energy Regulator (CER). Due to an increasing number of violations and near hits in Ontario, the CER is starting a campaign to educate municipalities in Ontario, (and consultants and contractors who work for them), that have federally regulated pipelines within municipal boundaries, ̶on what they need to know. Failure to follow these regulations can result in damage to the pipelines, endangering both workers and the public. An unintended line hit can cause severe infrastructure damage, cause injuries, and have a costly impact to a municipality, along with heavy penalties. Any person that intends to construct a facility (fence, tree, pipe), dig near or operate a vehicle across a pipeline must know these laws and inform all working on their behalf of their obligations under these Regulations.
During this webinar, the CER will explain the regulations and help you understand the expectations and how to work with a pipeline company. Preventing damage is a shared responsibility.
While this webinar is open to all, it will be of most interest to municipalities with CER regulated pipelines within their boundaries ̶ including, but not limited to, Toronto, Brampton, Burlington, Hamilton, Kingston, Mississauga, Oakville, Peel, Ramore, Sarnia, Vaughan, Whitby, Windsor, York Region. Also encouraged are those that work within municipalities, such as Metrolinx and Hydro One.
The CER has noticed an increase in submissions to CER’s Commission under section 335 of the CER Act, in which a few municipalities are finding challenges working with certain pipeline companies. Those issues can be discussed separately in a new committee: the Greater Toronto Area Municipal Matters (GTAMM). CER is soliciting members for GTAMM to be comprised of municipalities in Southern Ontario with CER regulated pipelines in their boundaries. We’ll discuss this new committee at the end of the Webinar. (Members may range from Managers of Public Works to Construction to Legal, etc.) For more information on the committee, please contact Debbie Clyne at debbie.clyne@cer-rec.gc.ca.
Speakers
Debbie Clyne – Regulatory Compliance Officer, Canada Energy Regulator
Debbie Clyne has been a Regulatory Compliance Officer for Canada Energy Regulator for 8 yrs and has over 20 yrs in Damage Prevention. A BCCGA Board Member since 2008, and on the Education and Pipeline Safety Committees, she helped bring the Ground Disturbance II Course to BC, plus organized 19 Dig Safe Workshops. While on CCGA’s Education Committee, Debbie helped bring the Damage Prevention Symposium and April Safe Dig Month to all of Canada.
Technical Safety BC awarded Debbie the Lt. Governor’s Award for making a difference in Safety Management Systems in 2015. She was awarded the Queen’s Jubilee Medal in recognition of her work in disasters since 1997 for the Canada and American Red Cross, working at Ground Zero in NYC after 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, the High River, Alberta floods and BC Wildfires. Debbie was awarded CER’s Safety Award in 2023 for her work on floods & wildfires and their impact on pipelines in BC.
Shannon Neufeld – Technical Leader of Damage Prevention, Canada Energy Regulator
Shannon Neufeld has over 30 years of Damage Prevention experience, developing damage prevention programs for both the natural gas and electric energy sectors. Since 2013, she has been the Technical Leader of Damage Prevention at the Canada Energy Regulator (CER), promoting the CER damage prevention regulations for federally regulated pipelines and power lines to keep Canadians safe.
Shannon is also on the Technical Committees for the CSA Z247 Damage Prevention for the Protection of Underground Infrastructure standard and CSA Z663 Land Use Planning in the Vicinity of Pipelines standard.
Within the damage prevention community of practice, Shannon serves on the Canadian Common Ground Alliance Board of Directors Senate addressing damage prevention issues of national interest.
Canada Energy Regulator:
The Canada Energy Regulator (CER) is Canada’s energy and safety regulator of international and interprovincial pipelines and federally regulated power lines. The CER oversees safety for the full life cycle of our regulated pipelines and powerlines. The CER promotes safe work practices around pipelines and power lines, and raises public awareness about safety by providing information and encouraging co-operation, safety education, and compliance with regulatory requirements.