Saskatchewan Methane Equivalency Comments Report

Summary#

This notice says the federal government has posted a report that summarizes how public comments and objections were handled about two methane-related actions for Saskatchewan. The report is available on the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 registry as of November 16, 2024.

What it does#

• Makes available a summary of how comments and any notices of objection were dealt with regarding the Agreement on the Equivalency of Federal and Saskatchewan Regulations Respecting the Release of Methane from the Oil and Gas Sector in Saskatchewan, 2025.
• Makes available a summary of how comments and any notices of objection were dealt with regarding the Order Declaring that the Provisions of the Regulations Respecting Reduction in the Release of Methane and Certain Volatile Organic Compounds (Upstream Oil and Gas Sector) Do Not Apply in Saskatchewan.
• Provides a public contact for the documents: Magda Little, Director, Oil, Gas, and Alternative Energy Division, Department of the Environment (email: methane-methane@ec.gc.ca).
• States the reports are available on the Canadian Environmental Protection Act Registry.

Who's affected#

• Companies and operators in the oil and gas industry in Saskatchewan.
• The Government of Saskatchewan and federal environmental regulators.
• Environmental groups, community members, and others who submitted comments or notices of objection.
• Anyone tracking how methane rules will be applied or enforced in Saskatchewan.

Why it matters#

• The summaries explain how public input was considered on whether Saskatchewan’s rules can be treated as equivalent to federal methane rules, and on a federal order saying certain federal rules do not apply in Saskatchewan.
• That affects who enforces methane controls and how those controls might be applied in practice in Saskatchewan.
• Making the summaries public improves transparency and lets stakeholders and the public see the government’s responses to concerns and objections.