National Energy Board And Safety Rules For Construction Near Pipelines

The National Energy Board (NEB) is proposing changes to three regulations¹ governing construction and excavation activities around NEB-regulated pipelines, two of which have not been updated since they came into effect in 1988. For context, according to Alberta's Energy and Resources Conservation Board, construction damage was the third most common cause of pipeline failure in 2010² and was responsible for 9% of pipeline incidents. The leading cause, at 47.3%, was internal corrosion, followed by external corrosion at 11.2% (see Table 9 of ST57- 2011: Field Surveillance and Operations Branch Provincial Summary 2010).

Although the discussion paper does not address the topics that are top of mind for many people concerned about pipeline construction – such as the impact of climate change on the structural integrity of pipelines and response times and protocols following a spill – preventing construction and excavation damage is also an important component of pipeline