Canada shares jurisdictional responsibilities between federal and provincial jurisdiction. Issues that concern environmental protection fall under both regulatory authorities. Various constituents of the CCSCarbon dioxide Capture and Storage chain thus fall under both regulations. However, storage(CO2) A process for retaining captured CO2, so that it does not reach the atmosphere issues are subject to provincial competency. Four provinces are currently proceeding with CCSCarbon dioxide Capture and Storage regulations: Alberta, Saskatchewan, British Columbia and Nova Scotia. Their CCSCarbon dioxide Capture and Storage regulations are currently in different development stages.
Alberta has already finalised its regulatory framework: in 2010 it enacted Alberta Carbon CaptureThe separation of carbon dioxide from other gases before it is emitted to the atmosphere and Storage(CO2) A process for retaining captured CO2, so that it does not reach the atmosphere Statutes Amendment Act (Gagnon, 2012). This Act basically amends a number of provincial statutes to facilitate CCSCarbon dioxide Capture and Storage. Alberta government has the authority to grant licences and to lease for the injectionThe process of using pressure to force fluids down wells of CO2Carbon dioxide. With respect to long-term stewardship the transfer of responsibilities back to the Crown (federal level) is foreseen after issuing a closure certificate. Before the issuance of this document, the lessee is required to contribute into a fund to cover the Crown's province's assumed liability, the costs of monitoringMeasurement and surveillance activities necessary for ensuring safe and reliable operation of a CGS project (storage integrity), and for estimating emission reductions the site and other post-closurePeriod after transfer of responsibility to the competent authority costs. Further amendments to the aforementioned Act were developed by Carbon Sequestration Tenure Regulation from 2011 (AR 68/2011, 2011). In it, the process for obtaining pore spaceSpace between rock or sediment grains that can contain fluids tenure rights for carrying out CO2Carbon dioxide geological storage(CO2) A process for retaining captured CO2, so that it does not reach the atmosphere is defined and the requirement to store in geological formations deeper than 1,000 meters below the surface is stipulated. The evaluation permit allows the permit holder to carry out activities to evaluate the suitability of a site for subsurface CO2Carbon dioxide storage(CO2) A process for retaining captured CO2, so that it does not reach the atmosphere. The permit is valid for five years and is subject to administrative fees and measurement, monitoringMeasurement and surveillance activities necessary for ensuring safe and reliable operation of a CGS project (storage integrity), and for estimating emission reductions and verification(CO2 storage) The proof, to a standard still to be decided, of the CO2 storage using monitoring results; (in the context of CDM) The independent review by a designated operational entity of monitored reductions in anthropogenic emissions requirements. The regulation establishes details about drilling the wells and evaluation and testing of these wells, and foresees an injectionThe process of using pressure to force fluids down wells duration period of fifteen years. Lessees must submit a monitoringMeasurement and surveillance activities necessary for ensuring safe and reliable operation of a CGS project (storage integrity), and for estimating emission reductions plan for approval by the Minister of Energy every three years. Closure plans must also be submitted for approval every three years. CO2Carbon dioxide storage(CO2) A process for retaining captured CO2, so that it does not reach the atmosphere operations will have to obtain other approvals, such as surface access and injectionThe process of using pressure to force fluids down wells wellManmade hole drilled into the earth to produce liquids or gases, or to allow the injection of fluids licences. The Regulations from 2011 will expire on 30 April 2016 with the aim to be reviewed and amended, if necessary. Alberta Carbon CaptureThe separation of carbon dioxide from other gases before it is emitted to the atmosphere Storage(CO2) A process for retaining captured CO2, so that it does not reach the atmosphere and Funding Act from 2009 and the Carbon CaptureThe separation of carbon dioxide from other gases before it is emitted to the atmosphere Storage(CO2) A process for retaining captured CO2, so that it does not reach the atmosphere and Funding Act Regulation provide funding mechanism for the design, construction and operation of CCSCarbon dioxide Capture and Storage projects.
Moreover, Alberta initiated a CCSCarbon dioxide Capture and Storage Regulatory Framework Assessment, within which different working groups are identifying any other potential regulatory gaps associated with CCSCarbon dioxide Capture and Storage deployment. Enhancements for issues such as geological site selection and closure criteria, post-closurePeriod after transfer of responsibility to the competent authority stewardship fund inputs and monitoringMeasurement and surveillance activities necessary for ensuring safe and reliable operation of a CGS project (storage integrity), and for estimating emission reductions, measurement, and verification(CO2 storage) The proof, to a standard still to be decided, of the CO2 storage using monitoring results; (in the context of CDM) The independent review by a designated operational entity of monitored reductions in anthropogenic emissions requirements were recommended. The final report of the Regulatory Framework Assessment was planned to be ready by the end of 2012 (Gagnon, 2012). No further specifications have been found, though the date has passed.
In Saskatchewan, the Oil and Gas Conservation Act (Bill 157, 2010) has been amended to expand and clarify the provincial regulatory authority for CO2Carbon dioxide storage(CO2) A process for retaining captured CO2, so that it does not reach the atmosphere. With these legislative amendments and Oil and Gas Conservation Regulations from 2012, barriers for CO2Carbon dioxide storage(CO2) A process for retaining captured CO2, so that it does not reach the atmosphere operations have been lifted. The provisions in the amendment that relate to CO2Carbon dioxide injectionThe process of using pressure to force fluids down wells and storage(CO2) A process for retaining captured CO2, so that it does not reach the atmosphere refer to: regulation of the injectionThe process of using pressure to force fluids down wells, storage(CO2) A process for retaining captured CO2, so that it does not reach the atmosphere and withdrawal of substances, including CO2Carbon dioxide and other GHGs; revision and clarification of the term »substance«; regulation and measurement of the withdrawal and underground storage(CO2) A process for retaining captured CO2, so that it does not reach the atmosphere of substances (such as CO2Carbon dioxide) from and to a wellManmade hole drilled into the earth to produce liquids or gases, or to allow the injection of fluids (IEA GHGInternational Energy Agency – Greenhouse Gas R&D Programme, 2012).
British Columbia released its Natural GasGas stored underground; It consists largely of methane, but can also contain other hydrocarbons, water, hydrogen sulphide and carbon dioxide, these other substances are separated before the methane is put into a pipeline or tanker Strategy in February, 2012. CCSCarbon dioxide Capture and Storage is recognized as one of possible climate solutions. It was established that a regulatory framework and amendments to existing legislation are needed, possibly in cooperation with the BC Oil and Gas Commission. Some gaps have been identified such as site selection, monitoringMeasurement and surveillance activities necessary for ensuring safe and reliable operation of a CGS project (storage integrity), and for estimating emission reductions, measurement, and verification(CO2 storage) The proof, to a standard still to be decided, of the CO2 storage using monitoring results; (in the context of CDM) The independent review by a designated operational entity of monitored reductions in anthropogenic emissions and long-term liability issues. Legislative amendments are expected for 2013 (Gagnon, 2012).
In Nova Scotia, they have just started the activities to enable possible deployment of a pilot CCSCarbon dioxide Capture and Storage project (Gagnon, 2012). Both an onshore and offshore option for storage(CO2) A process for retaining captured CO2, so that it does not reach the atmosphere was considered by the research consortium. They have issued a set of reports which include among others also regulatory/legal reports and riskConcept that denotes the product of the probability of a hazard and the subsequent consequence of the associated event management roadmaps.
Canadian provincial regulations, where available, are founded on the existing oil and gas regulatory practice. As such, the provinces decided for updating their existing regulatory framework rather than developing a comprehensive integrated CCSCarbon dioxide Capture and Storage framework. However, similar to the USA, the driver for CO2Carbon dioxide underground disposal operations in Canada are still enhanced oil/gas recovery operations and not CO2Carbon dioxide geological storage(CO2) A process for retaining captured CO2, so that it does not reach the atmosphere itself. Further progress in forming the regulatory regime on provincial as wellManmade hole drilled into the earth to produce liquids or gases, or to allow the injection of fluids as on federal level is foreseen when the outcomes of the Alberta Regulatory Framework Assessment initiative are available (Baker and McKenzie, 2011).