The petroleum industry is a major contributor to the B.C. economy. Significant oil and gas activity occurs in northeast B.C., including development on private land which includes the Montney Play. (The Montney formation overlaps with, or is adjacent to, seven incorporated municipalities – Chetwynd, Dawson Creek, Fort St. John, Hudson’s Hope, Pouce Coupe, Taylor and Tumbler Ridge.)
On March 19, 2009, the Honourable Blair Lekstrom, Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources, announced the creation of a voluntary community-based initiative to help address local area concerns (e.g. traffic safety, speed control, dust, noise, and roadway maintenance, etc.) related to oil and gas activity.
To support the Living Together – Working Together initiative, guiding principles have been created based upon consultation (Good Neighbour Initiative Consultation Report 2009) with the Northeast Energy and Mines Advisory Committee (NEEMAC), local and regional governments and the oil and gas industry. These jointly developed principles will help guide, build, and maintain working relationships between local and Aboriginal communities, landowners and industry.
The oil and gas companies listed on this voluntary registry have indicated their public support of these principles.
- Living Together
We will work collaboratively with landowners, local and Aboriginal communities, government and other industries to identify opportunities and minimize the impacts of our operations in a safe and responsible manner.
- Working Together
We recognize the need to work together with local residents and communities, and acknowledge that:
- We will be respectful of our shared use of the land
- We can further minimize impacts through cooperation and coordination amongst industry by sharing best practices related to local issues such as traffic safety, speed control, dust, noise, and roadway maintenance, among others
- It is important to identify and participate in opportunities to support the communities in which we operate
- Respect & Communication
We are committed to ongoing communication in a timely and proactive manner through:
- Open and respectful two-way dialogue
- Identifying company representatives and providing contact information
- Responding to local residents and communities to understand and address concerns
- Education and information exchange about oil and gas activities
- Accountability
We will demonstrate accountability by:
- Applying these guiding principles to both our employees and our contractors in our operations
- Reporting on our Living Together - Working Together activities
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