Sask. government toughens legislation on oil pipelines

The Saskatchewan government is getting tougher on pipeline companies.

It follows an auditor’s report that suggested the government needs to provide greater oversight and stop allowing the companies to regulate themselves.

Some of the components of the new legislation include:

• Creation of a legal framework for phased-in licensing of more than 80,000 flowlines which are exempt in current licensing under the Act;
• Building an online pipeline licensing system using the Integrated Resource Information System (IRIS);
• Establishing new inspection, investigation and compliance audit powers for ministry staff;
• Updating and modernizing penalty provisions;
• Improvements regarding pipeline licensing, construction, operation and abandonment;
• Providing requirements for financial assurance from operators for pipelines that are in high-risk locations like water crossings;
• Setting up new obligations associated with environmental issues that might occur following pipeline abandonment.