Job Specification

Purpose of Position :

To assess compliance with the Oil, Gas and Salt Resources Act, legislation. regulations and policies by inspecting abandoned works. monitoring and conducting field/technical investigations on natural gas. oil and salt brine wells. underground oil, gas and brine storage caverns and associated gathering lines, gas compressor stations, surface storage tanks and vessels throughout the province. To ensure public safety, environmental protection and good resource management practices. To investigate violations of the Oil Gas and Salt Resources Act, collect and correlate information. collect and seize evidence in accordance with procedures and conduct enforcement actions as required. To provide technical expertise and knowledge in support of Enforcement Branch activities.

Duties / Responsibilities :

Under the direct supervision of the Petroleum Compliance Supervisor. the position is responsible for providing physical front line program delivery of the Petroleum Resources program and services to the public, businesses and industries located Ontario, as well as ensuring compliance with the Oil, Gas and Salt Resources legislation, regulations, policies and guidelines by:

1. Responding to alleged incidences of oil field fluid spills/leaks and gas releases, by carrying out field/technical inspections and field/technical investigations, assessing compliance and implementing a timely compliance strategy.

2. Planning and concluding pro-active compliance inspections of well drilling projects, hydrocarbon production. underground storage of natural gas or liquid petroleum products, salt solution-mining production, blowouts, oil and gas releases to the environment, brine spills and complaints about oil and gas contamination to ascertain industry compliance and. if necessary, collecting and seizing evidence, taking witness statements, issuing orders, and assisting Enforcement Branch.

3 Assessing environmentally contaminated sites and spills (including after office hour responses to occurrences), determining the source(s) and responsible pates, and ensuring that appropriate remedial steps are taken.

4. Preparing reports and documenting findings/actions to support compliance proceedings: preparing executing legal documents, testifying before courts or judicial boards: reviewing and making recommendations on ministry approvals: preparing, issuing, serving, and defending orders.

5. Providing technical expertise and advice on regulatory compliance and approvals, public safety and environmental protection and solutions related to oil field fluid and gas leaks/spills to operators, drillers and consultants and public. Providing technical expertise and advice to other ministries and public safety agencies.

6. Ensuring the application of quality customer service standards, principles, guidelines, directives and procedures in order to improve services and communications with industry. private sector and the public.

7. Assisting the Crown Attorney in legal actions such as prosecutions related to contraventions, appearing as a witness at prosecutions and Mining and Lands Commissioner's hearings, judicial appeals and claims against the Crown.

8. Responding to enquiries from the public, landowners, suppliers, workers, completing operators, drillers, and internal ministry/division/government clients in person, on the telephone and by e-mail. explaining application, responsibilities and requirements under the Act. the regulations and related legislation, identifying contentious issues for senior management, providing facts and information and/or preparing briefing and house notes, as required

9. Preparing and delivering program presentations to the public and industry client groups furthering the understanding of the Oil Gas and Salt Resources Act, its Regulation, the provincial operating procedures, public safety and environmental protection.

10. Assisting other ministries, municipalities and other inspection/enforcement agencies by providing technical information and knowledge on shared issues and enforcement, impact of existing works on proposed development and public safety environmental protection concerns, shared investigations and prosecutions.

11. Assisting in program administration by reviewing documentation submitted by operators, entering data into databases, checking for accuracy and evaluating Information for follow-up of potential non-compliance issues in The

12. The incumbent shall, while in the workplace. conduct themselves in compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act and Regulations and any workplace policies, procedures or practices as directed by their immediate supervisor, report any hazards of which they are aware to their immediate supervisor, report all work related injuries and illnesses to their immediate supervisor.

Staffing and Licencing :

1. Valid driver's licence.
2. Hydrogen Sulfide Gas Safety Training certificate.
3. Blowout prevention training certificate

Knowledge :

Job requires knowledge of Oil, Gas arid Salt Resources Act and related regulations, pertinent sections of other relevant provincial statutes and regulations and National Standards such as: Provincial Offences Act. Occupational Health and Safety Act, Gas and Oil Leases Act. American Petroleum Institute standards , Canadian Standards Association Standards, and program policies and procedures to conduct field inspections, determine compliance, identify contraventions and issue orders or lay Provincial Offences Act charges and apply/interpret and explain the intend of legislation by inspecting drilling projects, carrying out held inspections and compliance audits as well as conducting investigations. Knowledge of landowner/operator/contractor relations and operator accountability to develop and maintain an effective relationships with all parties, and to resolve disputes related to works by explaining the application. responsibilities and requirements under the Act, Regulations and legislation Knowledge of ministry and government business plans in order to develop local partnerships with landowner representative bodies. Knowledge of investigative techniques to carry out field inspections /investigations. interview contractors, operators and landowners, and gather all relevant information and evidence by collecting and seizing evidence, taking witness statements, and issuing orders. Knowledge of court/inquest appeal procedures, relevant case law, rules of evidence, practices and processes to prepare Crown briefs and assist Crown Attorney in legal actions by testifying before courts or judicial boards, and preparing, issuing. serving and defending orders under appeal and or judicial review. Knowledge of theories, techniques, processes, practices, issues, work procedures, equipment, management and operational policies and practices in order to inspect, and or investigate petroleum exploration, production and underground storage operations and salt solution mining, afield operational practices and petroleum gathering pipeline systems by responding to alleged incidences of oil field fluid spills, unsafe and non-compliant practices and planning and conducting compliance inspections. Knowledge of production trends, new developments in drilling technology and geological hazards in the field in order to identify and evaluate safety hazards regarding high pressure mechanical processes, and physical risks in the workplace location by conducting inspections. Knowledge at employer/worker responsibilities and petroleum operations workplace safety as outlined in the Occupational Health and Safety Act and its applicable regulations to conduct inspections within a safe and healthy environment. Knowledge of information technology systems in order to use sector and work planning systems, and to input/access information data systems (e.g. Ontario Petroleum Data System). Knowledge of computer software applications (such as word processing, spreadsheets and power point) to prepare letters. tables, industry and public presentations and use electronic mail by accurately utilizing electronic systems. Knowledge of working with natural gas, liquid petroleum gas, crude oil and other associated petroleum products to ensure safe work practices by applying industry standard policies and procedures. Knowledge of operating in hazardous and inclement environments with inherently dangerous product including hydrogen sulphide, sulphur water, brine and other petroleum by-products by conducting themselves within the Occupational Health and Safety Act and Regulations, and any other workplace policies. procedures or practices. Knowledge of contract management and purchasing/tendering procedures in order lo obtain and oversee the plugging of abandoned oil, gas arid disposal wells by assisting with the preparation of Requests for Proposals, developing contractor evaluation/selection criteria and monitoring successful contractors.

Skills :

Reasoning problem-solving skills to conduct inspections/investigations: interview employees and operators representatives, reviewing operating procedures, training programs and a variety of public safety and environmental protection issues. Analytical and evaluation skills to interpret information collected that may be highly technical in nature and assess whether operators practices are in compliance with legislation, regulations, policies and standards, and determine strategies/action(s) lo be taken. Investigation skills for determining probable causes of occurrences or nature of complaints, interpreting and or integrating findings of investigation with relevant legislation, precedents and policies. Strong organizational and oral written communications skills. Interpersonal and conflict resolution skills to resolve issues that may develop in highly confrontational or adversarial situations. Planning and coordinating skills for own workload or coordinating workload in conjunction with other ministry staff based on targets and priorities. and formulating appropriate enforcement strategies within ministry/division business plans and district program budgets. Organizational skills for maintaining any equipment or records seized in conjunction with investigations in safe and in good condition.

Freedom of Action :

Working within the context of relevant provincial statutes and regulations related to oil, gas, and salt resources within the overall context of ministry and program business plans, administrative and program policies and procedures. Conducting on-site investigations and inspections to determine compliance or identify contraventions by interpreting intent of legislation, regulations, standards and ministry policies, and identify contraventions. Self-directed work load planning to meet the program inspection, enforcement and compliance target goals. Making decisions in resolving complaints, issuing orders in cases of non-compliance or recommending legal action. Work is subject on occasion to general review for adherence within legislation, regulations and ministry/division program policies and procedures by the Manager. Job requires referring situations outside policy that are subject to varied interpretations or unusual situations to the Petroleum Compliance Supervisor. Role requires conducting on site investigations and inspections to determine compliance with legislation, regulations, standards and ministry policies, identifying contraventions and issuing inspector's compliance orders and affixing of tags for threats to public and environmental safely. Role requires decision making on inspection outcomes and recommending further enforcement action to program management. Role requires the performance of the duties of a Provincial Offences Officer. including issuing of POA tickets (Part 1) and laying of charges (part 3) and qualifying as a subject matter expert witness in legal proceedings.