Public Notice

Shelburne Basin Venture Exploration Drilling Project – Public Comments Invited

January 17, 2014 — As part of the strengthened and modernized Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012 (CEAA 2012) put in place to support the government's Responsible Resource Development Initiative, the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency commenced a federal environmental assessment for the proposed Shelburne Basin Venture Exploration Drilling Project, located 250 kilometres off the coast of Nova Scotia. The Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board has also commenced an environmental review of this project and will coordinate with the Agency, to the extent possible, the conduct of a single environmental assessment review process.

The Agency invites the public to comment on which aspects of the environment may be affected by this project and what should be examined during the environmental assessment. The public can review and comment on the draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Guidelines, a document that identifies the potential environmental effects to be taken into consideration and the information and analysis that needs to be included in the proponent's EIS.

To view the draft EIS Guidelines or for more information, visit the Agency's website (Registry reference number 80058). Printed copies are available upon request.

Written comments must be submitted by February 16, 2014 to:

Shelburne Basin Venture Exploration Drilling Project
Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
200-1801 Hollis Street
Halifax, NS B3J 3N4
Telephone: 902-426-0564
Fax: 902-426-6550
Exploration.Shelburne@ceaa-acee.gc.ca

Map depicting the location of the project, as described in the current document.

Consistent with the transparency and public engagement elements of CEAA 2012, this is the second of four opportunities for Canadians to comment on this project. All comments received will be considered public. Following this comment period, the Agency will finalize and issue the EIS Guidelines to the proponent.

Future public comment periods on the proponent's EIS and the draft Environmental Assessment Report will be announced at later dates.

Projects subject to CEAA 2012 are assessed using a science-based approach. If the project is permitted to proceed to the next phase, it will continue to be subject to Canada's strong environmental laws, rigorous enforcement and follow-up, and increased fines for non-compliance.

The Proposed Project

Shell Canada Limited is proposing to conduct an exploratory drilling program approximately 250 kilometres off the coast of Nova Scotia, consisting of up to seven exploration wells within Exploration Licenses 2423, 2424, 2425, 2426, 2429, and 2430, over a four year period from 2015 to 2019. Specific drilling locations will be determined using seismic data gathered as part of the Shelburne Basin 3D Seismic Survey conducted in summer 2013.

Document Reference Number: 9

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