Regulatory and Environmental

Expertly Navigate the Regulatory Landscape

GLE has been continuously supporting oil & natural gas facilities projects, pipeline projects, alternative energy projects, and other unique projects of all sizes in Western Canada for nearly 4 decades. As our clients, the industry, and regulators have evolved during this time period, GLE has been evolving/adapting in parallel. The knowledge of how to execute these projects to best fit our clients’ needs, the regulator’s requirements, and the social environment of Western Canada is ingrained in our staff and company culture.

GLE’s regulatory department has successfully planned and executed full regulatory scopes and submitted hundreds of applications to various regulators for projects of all sizes (up to ~$400MM). Extensive knowledge gained from this experience has translated into an ability to provide the appropriate level of information with applications which frequently shortens an application’s approval time. Strict attention to detail and professional quality/presentation of this information are incorporated into every application.

The department maintains a highly-regarded relationship with the provincial energy industry regulators of British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan. GLE’s regulatory staff also maintain well-established relationships with the environmental ministries of those 3 provincial governments.

GLE’s regulatory expertise has generated a positive reputation which has led to its involvement on special projects such as a regional LNG facility in the city of Dawson Creek; projected to be the first operational LNG facility in BC. GLE’s environmental & regulatory specialists have successfully acquired regulatory approvals for a wide variety of projects, from creating thorough regulatory plans in the early project stages through to construction and start-up.

Their general experience includes:

• Producing the necessary technical deliverables required by the British Columbia Oil and Gas Commission (BCOGC), the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER), and the Saskatchewan Ministry of Energy and Resources (MER) for oil & gas related facility and pipeline applications
  • Use of the BCOGC electronic systems (KERMIT & AMS), the AER’s electronic systems (DDS & OneStop), and the Ministry of Energy and Resources electronic system (IRIS)
• Air Quality (Dispersion) Modelling and Reporting, including emissions calculations and emission inventories
• Emergency Response and Planning Zone calculations
• Applications for approval and registration under the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act
  • Experience with both AER and AEP designated activities
• Applications for approval under the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC)
• Submission of EIA determination summaries for discretionary activities
• Development Permit applications
• Building Permit applications
• NAV and Transport Canada proposals/assessments
• Regulatory scope planning, schedule/timeline development, and cost management
• Alberta and BC Boilers & Safety Associations
• (ABSA & BCSA) and CSA/ASME codes & regulations

GLE’s environmental & regulatory specialists have established relationships with a large number of Surveyors, Land Management Consultants, and Environmental Consultants (noise impact assessments, water quality assessments, soils, etc.) active in Alberta and BC. For all required activities not done in house, GLE’s regulatory department provides effective management of third-party entities in order to satisfy all regulatory requirements for a project. This includes acting as liaisons between clients, regulators, third-party entities, and GLE in order to expedite permits and ensure ongoing compliance with applicable regulations.

In addition to the vast regulatory experience, GLE’s staff also have the necessary training, software, and expertise in order to successfully complete air quality (dispersion) modelling projects from start (data gathering, emissions source calculations, and meteorological data pre-processing) to finish (preparing reports which meet the content requirements effective in each province). GLE uses the following software for air quality (dispersion) modelling:

• AERMOD for applications where a steady-state, straight-line, Gaussian plume model is appropriate (i.e. short to mid-range pollutant transport)
• CALPUFF for applications where a dynamic Lagrangian puff model is appropriate (i.e. long range pollutant transport and complex flow conditions
• AERflareincin for screening and refined assessments of flare stack and incinerator compliance with air quality objectives
• ERCBH2S for Emergency Response and Planning Zone Calculations (sour facilities and pipelines)

Only models approved by the United States’ Environmental Protection Agency and Canadian environmental ministries/energy regulators are used by GLE for air quality (dispersion) modelling. Commercial GUI’s developed by Lakes Environmental are utilized by GLE for both AERMOD and CALPUFF to aid in the efficiency of data processing, and to provide clear results and imaging for report generation.