NEB joint committee on pipeline safety

The National Energy Board (NEB) and the Canadian Energy Pipeline Association (CEPA) have struck a joint committee on issues of mutual interest for federally regulated pipelines. A signed terms of reference sets out the mandate and limitations of the joint committee’s work and establishes its membership.

Senior leadership from the NEB and CEPA will co-chair and participate in joint committee meetings.The terms of reference maintains that the NEB’s regulatory independence during joint committee meetings and includes the following provisions. The joint committee “will in no way limit or infringe upon the regulatory mandate of the NEB” nor will it “discuss individual applications or details or other matters before the board.”

The purpose of the join committee is as follows:

• Exchange information and ensure proactive issue identification on topics of mutual interest to the NEB and CEPA.
• Discuss and prioritise opportunities such as:
  • Company management systems audits and simplification.
  • CEPA Integrity First implementation.
  • The advancement of safety culture across the pipeline industry.
  • Development of processes and lines of communication between the NEB and CEPA for the purposes best practices information exchange, regulatory efficiencies, and regulatory policy development.
  • Common approaches to align pipeline safety indicators
• The joint committee’s three part mandate includes collaborative work on operational matters, regulatory process, and lifecycle issues.

Peter Watson, Chair and CEO of National Energy Board, stated: “The NEB continues to keep pipelines safe and the environment protected. At the same time, we continue to find ways to meet the evolving needs of our stakeholders and the broader Canadian community. Through the joint committee, we expect enhanced safety and environmental outcomes for all Canadians.”

Edited from source by Stephanie Roker

Read the article online at: https://www.worldpipelines.com/business-news/26052016/neb-joint-committee-on-pipeline-safety/