Inspections
Inspections are a check at one point in time that a company is meeting requirements in acts, regulations, and conditions of a project’s approval, certificate, order, or permit. An inspection is also known as a compliance verification activity, or CVA, because its purpose is to verify that a company is meeting (complying) with requirements. Inspections focus on 1 or 2 areas of a company’s operations. Areas inspected could be safety management, damage prevention, environmental protection, integrity management, or emergency management.
Search reports
We make all inspection reports public. We post reports within 6 weeks after an inspection is complete.
Planning inspections with a risk-based approach
We use a risk-based approach when we plan inspections. For example, we will inspect a pipeline operation with a higher risk of compliance violations than one with a lower risk. We’ll also inspect work where major construction is being done.
Other times an inspection is important:
- in an environmentally sensitive area, such as a watercourse crossing
- when aboveground facilities are present, such as pipeline valves and stations
- when population density is a concern
- for utility and transportation crossings
- the company has a history of not being able to manage hazards (previous incidents and non-compliances)
- recent or outstanding issues have been raised by landowners or the general public
- when it is an active pipeline construction project
- for a specific environmental mitigation commitment, such as for species at risk
When we find something
For companies that are not meeting our standards and requirements, we will take enforcement action and bring the company back into compliance.
Learn more about the tools we use to enforce compliance and our Enforcement Policy.
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