Frame of Reference – Pipeline Response

File OF-Surv-EmerMan-ERE 0101
12 February 2021

To: All Oil and Gas Pipeline Companies under the Jurisdiction of the Canada Energy Regulator (CER) and operating in Québec

  • Frame of Reference – Pipeline Response

When the CER Eastern Region Office in Montreal was established in 2015, CER Staff quickly learned that an important issue raised by Québec stakeholders was regarding what could be expected from the CER in the case of a pipeline incident, and who would coordinate the emergency response operations. CER Engagement and Emergency Response Specialists began to engage with response organizations, pipeline companies, municipal responders, representatives from the Sécurité civile du Québec and provincial and federal operational partners to address these interests.

The results of these collaborative and sustained efforts have been positive. A multi-jurisdictional pipeline response framework, the Frame of Reference – Pipeline Response (FRPR), also known as the Cadre de référence – Intervention pipelines (CRIP) in French, was developed by a working committee comprised of the CER and several partners and stakeholders from the municipal, provincial and federal levels of government as well as pipeline companies operating in Québec, including those regulated by the CER.

The Québec Ministry of Public Safety has published the FRPR – CRIPFootnote 1. An objective of FRPR – CRIP is to enhance awareness, communication and alignment of differing emergency management systems in order to strengthen preparedness for the groups and agencies called upon to manage a response and protect the public, environment and property, in the event of a pipeline incident. It should be noted that the FRPR – CRIP does not modify the roles, responsibilities or regulatory and legislative obligations of relevant authorities and does not replace a company’s jurisdictional regulatory requirements and approaches to achieve compliance, including those regulated by the CER.

As noted in the FRPR – CRIP, it is a living document. After consideration by the FRPR – CRIP Committee, the FRPR – CRIP can be continuously improved “by integrating the lessons learned following exercises or actual events, or according to how regulations and applicable good practices evolve.” The CER looks forward to our continued collaboration, innovation and commitment to excellence with our partners in Québec through the positive work of the FRPR – CRIP and other emergency management related opportunities.

If you have any questions about the appropriate integration of the FRPR’s – CRIP’s processes and procedures within your emergency management programs, emergency response plans, or training and exercises, please contact Mr. Marc-André Plouffe, Director of the CER’s Eastern Region Office (marc-andre.plouffe@cer-rec.gc.ca).

Yours sincerely,

Signed by

Chris Loewen
Vice-President, Field Operations

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