NWT Hydraulic Fracturing Filing Regulations

On April 1, 2015, the Government of the Northwest Territories released the Hydraulic Fracturing Filing Regulations pursuant to section 53(1) of the NWT Oil and Gas Operations Act, S.N.W.T. 2014,c.14. The Government is seeking public comment on the Regulations until June 29, 2015.

The Regulations prescribe the filing requirements for companies that intend to use hydraulic fracturing in the NWT. The Regulations are based heavily on existing National Energy Board guidelines, but include four requirements which are based on what the Government states are the priorities of NWT residents. Under the new requirements, an Applicant who wants to use hydraulic fracturing must:

1. Submit baseline surface and groundwater information;