ARCHIVED – National Energy Board – 2012-13 Departmental Performance Report – User Fees and Regulatory Charges/External Fees

User fee: Fees charged for the issuance of operating licenses under the Canada Oil and Gas Operations Act (COGO Act).

Fee type: Regulatory (R)

Fee-setting authority: Canada Oil and Gas Operations Act, section 5(1)(a); Canada Oil and Gas Operations Regulations, section 3(2)(d)

Year last modified: 1992

Performance standards: Well drilling applications: 100 per cent of decision rendered within 21 calendar days of receiving a complete application. Geological and geophysical applications: 100 per cent of decision rendered within 30 calendar days of receiving a complete application.

Performance results: Well drilling applications: Eight received: 100 per cent of decisions rendered within 21 calendar days. Geological and geophysical applications: Five (5) received: 100 per cent of decision rendered within 30 calendar days.

User Fees and Regulatory Charges (User Fees Act)

2012–13 ($ thousands)			Planning years ($ thousands)
Forecast revenue	Actual revenue	Full cost	Fiscal year	Forecast revenue	Estimated full cost
1.0	.08	5,889.1	2013-14	1.0	5,753.0
			2014-15	1.0	5,647.2
			2015-16	1.0	5,480.9

Other information: One geological/geophysical application was withdrawn prior to decision. Under the COGO Act, the NEB regulates oil and gas activities on Frontier lands not subject to a federal/provincial accord.

User fee: Fees charged for the processing of access requests filed under the Access to Information Act.

Fee type: Other Products and Services (O)

Fee-setting authority: Access to Information Act, section 11; Access to Information Regulations, section 7

Year last modified: 1992

Performance standards: Response provided within 30 days following the receipt of request. The response time may be extended pursuant to section 9 of the Access to Information Act. Notice of extension to be sent within 30 days after receipt of request.

Performance results: During the reporting period, the Board received 99 requests under the Access to Information Act compared to 56 in the previous reporting period. 19 requests were outstanding from the previous reporting period. Of the 118 requests, 98 were completed and 20 were carried forward to the next year. The NEB concluded the year with over 85 per cent of requests completed within statutory deadlines.

User Fees and Regulatory Charges (User Fees Act)

2012–13 ($ thousands)			Planning years ($ thousands)
Forecast revenue	Actual revenue	Full cost	Fiscal year	Forecast revenue	Estimated full cost
1.0	1.3	345.1	2013-14	1.3	350.0
			2014-15	1.3	350.0
			2015-16	1.3	350.0

Other information: 2012-2013 was another record year for the Board with respect to the number of requests received. The number of access to information requests received continues to grow steadily, almost doubling year over year, since 2010. The NEB has invested in ATIP with additional funding, training and mentoring to retain the current ATIP staff. As a direct result of these resources, the NEB was able to respond to over 85 per cent of all access to information requests within the legislated timeframes. The NEB also eliminated its backlog of requests and prevented buildups from increasing. The Board continues to make a strong effort to keep up with the unprecedented number of requests.