In 1998, the Government of British Columbia entered into an agreement with the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) and the Small Explorers and Producers Association of Canada (SEPAC) to establish the Environment Fund (the Fund), which would be administered by the Oil and Gas Commission (OGC). The Fund was allocated $5 million over five years to support studies concerning practical ways of addressing environmental issues related to oil and gas exploration and development in British Columbia.
In 2002, CAPP and SEPAC restated their support of the Fund for a total of $9 million. They also agreed to refocus and rename the Fund, changing it from a purely research-based, environment fund to a broader based fund which incorporates science and community environmental knowledge-thus the new name Science and Community Environmental Knowledge Fund (SCEK Fund).
The purpose of the SCEK Fund (the Fund), as stated in the March 24, 2005, agreement between the founding parties, is to support and facilitate research concerning practical ways of addressing environmental issues related to oil and gas exploration in British Columbia. This fund does not replicate research that is the responsibility of government.
Study findings will be incorporated, where appropriate, into practices and regulations.
To continuously improve understanding and management of the impacts of oil and gas activities in British Columbia.
| 1 |
Promote studies that improve understanding, measure
and monitor impacts, contribute to best practices, and deliver
technological innovations to minimize the negative and maximize the positive impacts of oil and gas
activities on the environment and communities
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1.1 |
Support studies that advance oil and gas industry best practices
and regulations related to health and safety.
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1.2 |
Support studies that advance practices and regulations related
to the avoidance, minimization, or reduction of negative environmental impacts
of oil and gas activities that enhance or restore the environment.
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1.3 |
Support studies that advance understanding and management of
the cumulative impacts of oil and gas activities.
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1.4 |
Support projects that improve collaboration and communication
among industry, government, First Nation, and communities related
to oil and gas activities.
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1.5 |
Support projects that document and demonstrate the application
of community environmental knowledge held by First Nations, resource-based
communities, and resource users in the assessment and decision-making
for oil and gas development, production and reclamation/restoration.
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| 2 |
Develop an efficient and effective planning and implementation
framework for the SCEK Fund
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2.1 |
Establish a structure for identifying annual SCEK Fund priorities and optimizing the allocation funds.
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2.2 |
Establish a process for soliciting and selecting proposals that
meet annual priorities.
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2.3 |
Establish principles and structures for allocating, administering,
and monitoring effectiveness of project funds.
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2.4 |
By March 31, publish an annual business plan outlining the allocation
of funds for the coming fiscal year.
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| 3 |
Build support for participation in SCEK Fund priorities
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3.1 |
Monitor research being conducted by related funds and seek collaborative
initiatives.
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3.2 |
Demonstrate the contribution of SCEK studies to improving understanding
and management of the impacts of oil and gas activities.
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3.3 |
Monitor research, study, and extension activities, and report
annually to sponsors, industry, and other stakeholders. |
