Equivalent Standards and Exemptions

The Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Resources Accord Implementation Acts specify in Paragraphs 155(1)(a) and (b) (Federal version) and Paragraphs 147(1)(a) and (b) (Provincial Version) that the Chief Safety Officer and/or the Chief Conservation Officer may

(a)    authorize the use of equipment, methods, measures or standards in lieu of any required by any regulation made under section 153 (Federal version) and under section 146 (Provincial version), if those Officers are satisfied that the use of that other equipment or those other methods, measures or standards would provide a level of safety, protection of the environment and conservation equivalent to that provided by compliance with the regulations; or

(b)    grant an exemption from any requirement imposed, by any regulation made under section 153, in respect of equipment, methods, measures or standards, if those Officers are satisfied with the level of safety, protection of the environment and conservation that will be achieved without compliance with that requirement.

Furthermore, Paragraph 210.07(1) (Federal version) and Paragraph 202BT(1) (Provincial version) states that the Chief Safety Officer may, on application, permit the use at a workplace, for a specified time and subject to specified conditions, of specified equipment, methods, measures, standards or other things, in lieu of any required by regulations made under Part III.1 (Federal version) and Part IIIA (Provincial version), if he or she is satisfied that protection of the health and safety of employees at the workplace would not be diminished and the granting of the permission is not otherwise prohibited by regulation.

To process such requests, a "regulatory query” process has been developed which the Board’s Operations/Health Safety & Environment Department administers.
Applicants requesting approval for substitution or exemption from a regulatory requirement must submit a Regulatory Query Form (RQ Form) in accordance with the Safety and Conservation Directive entitled Regulatory Queries.

RQ applications for substitution in lieu of Part III.1 (Federal version) and Part IIIA (Provincial version) regulations will be posted below for public review and submissions.  Submissions received are forwarded to the applicant for review and consideration, and to the Chief Safety Officer for consideration before making an RQ decision.

If CNSOPB staff determines that the applicant's proposal is acceptable, they will make a recommendation to the Chief Safety Officer and/or the Chief Conservation Officer. The Chief Safety Officer and/or the Chief Conservation Officer makes the decision and posts such decisions below.

REGULATORY QUERY APPLICATIONS – Public Notice Board

The following Regulatory Query Applications have been made to the Chief Safety Officer for a regulatory variance in lieu of Regulations made under Part III.1 (Federal version) and Part IIIA (Provincial version) of the Accord Acts, and are open for public review and submissions.  Public submissions may be made to the CNSOPB at email.

REGULATORY QUERIES – Decisions (Chief Safety Officer)

The CNSOPB posts all RQ decisions.  You can view the decisions by clicking on the links in the table below.
Note: RQ Decisions made prior to April 13, 2012 are not posted

REGULATORY QUERIES – Decisions (Chief Conservation Officer)

The CNSOPB posts all RQ decisions.  You can view the decisions by clicking on the links in the table below.
Note: RQ Decisions made prior to April 13, 2012 are not posted.