OFFSHORE LEGISLATION
The regulation of oil and gas activities on frontier lands is based primarily on two pieces of legislation, the Canada Oil and Gas Operations Act (COGOA) and the Canada Petroleum Resources Act (CPRA). The COGOA provides for the technical regulation of oil and gas drilling and production, in particular safety and environmental regulation. The CPRA provides for the regulation of the ownership of frontier oil and resources, encompassing matters such as the administration of rights to explore for and produce petroleum, royalties and industrial benefits. Technically, these Acts and resulting regulations are applicable only in areas of frontier lands where joint management has not been agreed to. In the two Accord areas, the pertinent acts are the Canada- Newfoundland Atlantic Accord Implementation Act, and the Canada-Nova Scotia Petroleum Resources Accord Implementation Act, and corresponding provincial Accord Implementation Acts.
All of these Accord Acts incorporate the COGOA and the CPRA. As a result, all of the ensuing regulations promulgated under these Acts are essentially the same. This makes regulation of the oil and gas industry in all areas of frontier lands technically consistent and similar from region to region.