The Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources (MEMPR) leads a targeted and focused Oil and Gas Environmental Stewardship Program (OGESP) that helps to address the Province’s strategic objective of maintaining healthy communities and a sustainable environment. The Oil and Gas Environmental Stewardship Program is a component of The BC Energy Plan: A Vision for Clean Energy Leadership. The Province is committed to enhancing the Environmental Stewardship Program, ensuring sound environmental, land, and resource management.

The OGESP, administered by MEMPR’s Resource Development and Geoscience Branch, encompasses two funding programs: the Environmental Policy Program (EPP) and the Environmental Resource Information Project (ERIP).

New! The Environmental Stewardship Program Report on 2006/2007 Research.

The Environmental Policy Program  

The Environmental Policy Program was initiated in 2004 to identify and mitigate environmental issues in the petroleum sector. Working towards resolving environmental issues helps to build vibrant communities and to ensure that industry has the opportunity for a long-term future in the responsible development of oil and gas resources in B.C.  

The Environmental Resource Information Project contributes to responsible oil and gas development through the implementation of projects aimed at creating an inventory of baseline information. The majority of projects are related to water quality monitoring in selected coalfields across British Columbia prior to oil and gas development.

The Oil and Gas Environmental Stewardship program is committed to supporting projects that provide for better stewardship in the oil and gas industry, and continued improvement in environmental and health and safety performance. In 2006/2007, $500,000 was invested in project work to reduce the ecological footprint of the oil and gas industry.

Project results will be used by industry and government agencies in a variety of ways, from establishing environmental guidelines, targets and best management practices to improving working relationships with First Nations and community groups.

Some key program achievements to date include the completion of:

• Projects that identify important Doig River and Prophet River First Nations sites and cultural features.
• Several ungulate habitat enhancement and assessment projects.
• Guidelines for Air Quality Dispersion Modeling in B.C.
• Assessments and Mapping of Terrain Hazards in Northeast B.C.