Regional Assessment of Offshore Oil and Gas Exploratory Drilling East of Newfoundland and Labrador

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Attachment Don’t build oil rigs! Save the ocean!

  • Regional Assessment of Offshore Oil and Gas Exploratory Drilling East of Newfoundland and Labrador
  • Author: Nicole Corrado
  • Reference number: 293
  • Submitted: 2025-09-24 - 10:55 PM
  • Participation notice: Public Notice - Public Comments Invited on the Draft Follow-up Program Report for 2024-2025
  • Please do NOT drill for oil in the ocean!  The oil may spill and destroy the fishes, birds and other animals!  Oil contributes to climate change too.  Effluent is tested on animals even though we know it's toxic.  This oil rig is a terrible idea and it should not be built.  

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Attachment Drilling for oil in the ocean is a terrible idea

  • Regional Assessment of Offshore Oil and Gas Exploratory Drilling East of Newfoundland and Labrador
  • Author: Nicole Corrado
  • Reference number: 288
  • Submitted: 2024-07-03 - 11:29 PM
  • Drilling for oil in the ocean is as terrible an idea as it sounds.  There is too much risk of leaking, and an oil spill would devastate the fishes, mammals, birds, invertebrates, and all the other animals and plants living in the ocean.  And with climate change, we can not afford to invest in more fossil fuels.     Please do not use animal testing for pollution and effluent  monitoring.  https://www.change.org/p/stop-testing-sewer-water-on-laboratory-fish Please work with the Canadian Centre for the Alternatives to Animal Methods.  https://www.uwindsor.ca/ccaam/  

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Attachment Oceans North Comments on the Follow-up Program Report for 2023-2024

  • Regional Assessment of Offshore Oil and Gas Exploratory Drilling East of Newfoundland and Labrador
  • Author: Oceans North
  • Reference number: 287
  • Submitted: 2024-06-28 - 1:55 PM
  • Please find attached comments from Oceans North regarding the 2023-2024 Follow Up Program Report for the Regional Assessment of Offshore Oil and Gas Exploratory Drilling East of Newfoundland and Labrador. Kind regards, Amanda Joynt Senior Policy Advisor, Oceans North
  • Attachment included
  • 1 www.oceansnorth.org 236 Metcalfe Street Unit 301-2, Ottawa, ON K2P 1R3 June 28, 2024 Impact Assessment Agency of Canada Regional Assessment of Offshore Oil and Gas Exploratory Drilling East of Newfoundland and Labrador Re: Oceans North Comments on the Follow-up Program Report for 2023-2024 Oceans North is providing comment on the Follow Up Program Report for 2023-24 which tracks and reports on the progress of the commitments outlined in the Ministerial Response to the Regional Assessment Committee's Report. Overall, the report requires more detail regarding the performance measurement of the desired outcomes of the RA Follow Up Program. Table 1 shows the outcomes, indicators, and targets for the follow up program performance measurement. However, the indicators listed are missing the details of how we understand these outcomes have been achieved. The indicators of success need to be explicit and detailed, especially as reports from the existing project start to emerge in the coming years. For example, the Program Outcome of “New and emerging information is considered in decision-making” is supported by an indicator of “GIS Tool continues to be updated and is used to inform decision-making for exploratory drilling projects.” This is not an indicator, as an indicator is a way to quantitatively understand the achievement (or not) of an objective. We suggest creating another column with measurable indicators. In this case, an indicator could be the number of times the GIS Tool was referenced within an impact assessment or in a report. Without these specific indicators, reviewers of this report must believe that the actions listed in Table 1 have occurred. ...
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Attachment Don't build a pipeline

  • Regional Assessment of Offshore Oil and Gas Exploratory Drilling East of Newfoundland and Labrador
  • Author: Nicole Corrado
  • Reference number: 286
  • Submitted: 2024-06-06 - 5:16 PM
  • ?Pipelines have no place in our modern world, especially during this climate crisis.  Please preserve the trees at this location.  Please do not harm animals with this project. Please do not use animal testing for pollution and effluent  monitoring.  https://www.change.org/p/stop-testing-sewer-water-on-laboratory-fish   ?Please work with the Canadian Centre for the Alternatives to Animal Methods.  https://www.uwindsor.ca/ccaam/   Please only use non lethal ways to live with geese, beavers, and other wildlife.  Develop a Living With Coyotes program with the animal welfare organization Coyote Watch Canada.  www.coyotewatchcanada.co (https://www.coyotewatchcanada.com/)m   Please only use non lethal ways to manage wildlife.  There are humane, non lethal ways to deal with beavers.  Here's a great resource. ...

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Attachment NG Comments on the IAAC Regional Assessment Follow-up Program

  • Regional Assessment of Offshore Oil and Gas Exploratory Drilling East of Newfoundland and Labrador
  • Author: Administrator on behalf of Nunatsiavut Government
  • Reference number: 269
  • Submitted: 2020-12-15
  • Please see the attached submission.
  • Attachment included
  • December 11th, 2020 Regional Assessment Follow-up Unit Impact Assessment Agency of Canada 160 Elgin Street, 22nd Floor Ottawa, ON K1A 0H3 RE: Public comment period on the draft Terms of Reference for the Regional Assessment We appreciate the opportunity to participate in the implementation and consultations in relation to the Regional Assessment (RA) follow-up Program. This letter is in response to the call for review and comments of the draft Terms of Reference for the Regional Assessment of Offshore Oil and Gas Exploratory Drilling East of Newfoundland and Labrador - Follow-up Program, sent on October 26, 2020. The Regional Assessment was an ambitious endeavor that left a lot of responsibilities and challenges for this Program, and significant collaboration between rights holders and stakeholders will be the key to its success. However, some elements of the RA follow-up program, in our view, are concerning. Important recommendations from the Regional Assessment Report regarding what was then called the Oversight Committee seem to have been disregarded. Most importantly, Indigenous groups representation, in these draft Terms of Reference, is absent from the steering committee. The split between an advisory committee, and a steering committee without Indigenous representation is problematic and in contradiction with our understanding of the RA recommendations. Indigenous perspectives should be included in the steering committee itself rather than only relegated to an advisory committee. Including Indigenous perspectives at the decision-making level is necessary to fulfill the objectives of the follow-up program that are demonstrated in the RA report and the Ministerial Response. It is ...
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Attachment NunatuKavut Community Council's comments - Draft TOR - RA Follow-up Program

  • Regional Assessment of Offshore Oil and Gas Exploratory Drilling East of Newfoundland and Labrador
  • Author: Administrator on behalf of NunatuKavut Community Council
  • Reference number: 271
  • Submitted: 2020-12-15
  • Please see the attached submission.
  • Attachment included
  • Comments on the Draft Terms of Reference for the Regional Assessment of Offshore Exploratory Drilling East of Newfoundland and Labrador Follow-up Program December 2020 By the NunatuKavut Community Council 200 Kelland Drive, PO Box 460, Stn. C Happy Valley-Goose Bay, NL A0P1C0 http://www.nunatukavut.ca http://www.nunatukavut.ca/ http://www.nunatukavut.ca/ 2 I. INTRODUCTION The NunatuKavut Community Council (“NCC”) is pleased to present its comments to the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (“IAAC” or “Agency”) on the Draft Terms of Reference (“Draft TOR”) for the Regional Assessment of Offshore Exploratory Drilling East of Newfoundland and Labrador Follow-up Program (“NL RA Follow-up Program”). NunatuKavut means "Our Ancient Land." It is the territory of the Inuit of NunatuKavut, the Inuit residing primarily in southern and central Labrador. Our people lived in Labrador long before Europeans set foot on North American soil. As it was in times of old, and still today, we are deeply connected to the land, sea and ice that make up NunatuKavut, our home. Today, our people continue to hunt and fish to harvest country food that is important for health and well-being and which connects us to our culture and traditions of the past. Atlantic salmon, thick-billed murres (known locally as “turrs”) and eider ducks are among the species that we harvest for these purposes and that may potentially be affected by oil and gas drilling projects offshore Eastern Newfoundland, whether aimed at exploration or production. Additionally, NCC’s communal commercial fisheries play an important role in the life and economy of NunatuKavut communities and ...
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Attachment Draft RA Follow-up Program Terms of Reference - L'nuey Notes

  • Regional Assessment of Offshore Oil and Gas Exploratory Drilling East of Newfoundland and Labrador
  • Author: Administrator on behalf of L'NUEY
  • Reference number: 268
  • Submitted: 2020-12-13
  •   Good morning, Sorry about the lateness of my email comments regarding the TOR. I was having an issue with the email last evening as it was saying it was invalid.   My only comment is regarding the Indigenous Knowledge.  Just wondering, has the work been conducted on what Indigenous Knowledge is and if someone compiled this knowledge, who reviewed the information?  Also, as each Indigenous Knowledge is different per nation.  Has this taken into account?   Thank you, (http://lnuey.ca/) Wendell LaBobe Consultations Coordinator 199 Grafton Street, Suite 502 Charlottetown, PE C1A 1L2 C: <personal information removed> wlabobe@lnuey,ca   lnuey.ca (http://lnuey.ca)   This e-mail contains information intended only for the person(s) named and may be solicitor client privileged. Any other distribution, copying or disclosure is strictly ...

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Attachment Submission on the Regional Assessment Draft TOR

  • Regional Assessment of Offshore Oil and Gas Exploratory Drilling East of Newfoundland and Labrador
  • Author: Administrator on behalf of East Coast Environmental Law Association
  • Reference number: 267
  • Submitted: 2020-12-12
  • Project phase: Post Decision
  • Participation notice: Public Notice - Call for Applications for the Regional Assessment Follow-up Advisory Committee
  • Please see attachment.
  • Attachment included
  • East Coast Environmental Law Association 6061 University Ave., PO Box 15000 Halifax, NS B3H 4R2 Sent via email Impact Assessment Agency of Canada 301-10 Barters Hill St. John’s, NL A1C 6M1 iaac.followup-suivi.aeic@canada.ca December 12, 2020 To the Members of the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada, Re: Comments on the Draft Terms of Reference for the Follow-up Program of the Regional Assessment of Offshore Oil and Gas Exploratory Drilling East of Newfoundland and Labrador The East Coast Environmental Law Association, established in 2007 as a non-profit organization, responds to community inquiries, carries out legal and policy research and presents educational resources and opportunities to increase public awareness of environmental laws in Atlantic Canada. Our objective is to build capacity in the public and among legal practitioners so that we can work together to ensure that environmental laws are effectively used and strengthened. East Coast Environmental Law regularly engages on marine environmental law matters throughout the Atlantic region. The following is East Coast Environmental Law’s submission on the draft Terms of Reference (TOR) for the Follow-up Program of the Regional Assessment of Offshore Oil and Gas Exploratory Drilling East off Newfoundland and Labrador (“the Regional Assessment”), in response to the invitation for public comments issued by the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada on October 28, 2020. Context As an organization that supports the public interest, we have concerns with the Regional Assessment that forms the basis for the Follow-up Program. East Coast Environmental Law has expressed concerns with the Regional Assessment on multiple ...
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Attachment 80156 CAPP Submission to the Draft Terms of Reference Regional Assessment of Offshore Exploratory Drilling East of NL: Follow-up Program

  • Regional Assessment of Offshore Oil and Gas Exploratory Drilling East of Newfoundland and Labrador
  • Author: Jennifer3rrtt Matthews
  • Reference number: 264
  • Submitted: 2020-12-11 - 1:46 PM
  • The Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) is pleased to submit the enclosed response to the draft Terms of Reference for the Regional Assessment Offshore Exploratory Drilling East of NL: Follow-up Program.  
  • Attachment included
  • 2100, 350 – 7 Avenue S.W. Calgary, Alberta Canada T2P 3N9 Tel 403-267-1100 Fax 403-261-4622 1000, 275 Slater Street Ottawa, Ontario Canada K1P 5H9 Tel 613-288-2126 Fax 613- 236-4280 1004, 235 Water Street St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador Canada A1C 1B6 Tel 709-724-4200 Unit 202, 1110 Government St. Victoria, British Columbia Canada V8W 1Y2 Tel 778-265-3819 Fax 403-261-4622 www.capp.ca  communication@capp.ca December 11, 2020 Mr. David McGovern President, Impact Assessment Agency of Canada 22nd Floor, Place Bell 160 Elgin Street Ottawa, ON K1A 0H3 RE: CAPP response to the Draft – Terms of Reference Regional Assessment of Offshore Exploratory Drilling East of Newfoundland and Labrador: Follow-up Program On behalf of the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP), I am pleased to respond to the draft Terms of Reference Regional Assessment (RA) of Offshore Exploratory Drilling East of Newfoundland and Labrador: Follow-up Program. Based on previous CAPP submissions, I would like to reiterate that the policy decisions made by the Impact Assessment Agency (IAA) have a direct impact on future offshore exploration activity. With the projected global rebound in energy demand, Canada’s natural gas and oil industry can drive a strong recovery that Canadians can be proud of. Given current economic conditions, I firmly believe that any changes made to the Regional Assessment of Offshore Exploratory Drilling East of Newfoundland and Labrador before an offshore exploration project has been approved through this new process will signal uncertainty to potential investors. CAPP offers the following recommendations and comments in relation to the Draft ...
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Attachment FFAW Comments RA Folloow-up draft TOR

  • Regional Assessment of Offshore Oil and Gas Exploratory Drilling East of Newfoundland and Labrador
  • Author: Administrator on behalf of Fish, Food and Allied Workers' Union
  • Reference number: 266
  • Submitted: 2020-12-11
  • Project phase: Post Decision
  • Participation notice: Public Notice - Call for Applications for the Regional Assessment Follow-up Advisory Committee
  • Please see attachment.
  • Attachment included
  • KEITH SULLIVAN President ROBERT KEENAN Secretary-Treasurer Friday, December 11, 2020 Impact Assessment Agency of Canada Follow-up Unit 160 Elgin Street Ottawa, ON K1A 0H3 Re: FFAW-Unifor Comments regarding Follow-up Program draft Terms of Reference document for the Regional Assessment of Offshore Exploratory Drilling East of Newfoundland and Labrador To Whom It May Concern, Please accept the Fish, Food and Allied Workers’ Union (FFAW-Unifor) comments regarding the draft Terms of Reference document for the RA Follow-up Program to be undertaken by the Government of Canada. While the document outlines the general premise of the RA Follow-up Program, it is difficult to provide comment at this stage on specifics. A more tangible work plan that describes how the various government agencies and departments propose to fulfill the commitments of the Government of Canada (in the Ministerial Response) would be beneficial in this instance. It is understood that this is still being worked out between the parties. We are hopeful that the GIS Support Tool, developed in conjunction with the Regional Assessment process, will be helpful in clearly identifying resource conflict areas between the petroleum and fishing industries going forward. It is critical however that the data is updated on a regular basis, twice a year if necessary, to be useful in generating maps that display areas of contention in the large ocean area that comprises the Offshore Eastern Region. As a key ocean stakeholder FFAW-Unifor members would appreciate further detail on engagement opportunities for the fishing industry within this program. We would strongly recommend ...
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Attachment Federal funding allocation - William A. Montevecchi - Regional Assessment of Offshore Drilling East of Newfoundland and Labrador (The Regional Assessment)

  • Regional Assessment of Offshore Oil and Gas Exploratory Drilling East of Newfoundland and Labrador
  • Author: Administrator on behalf of Montevecchi Lab
  • Reference number: 265
  • Submitted: 2020-12-09
  • Project phase: Post Decision
  • Participation notice: Public Notice - Call for Applications for the Regional Assessment Follow-up Advisory Committee
  • Please see attachment.
  • Attachment included
  • Review of 1) Draft Terms of Reference IAA Follow-up Program of Environmental Requirements for NL Offshore Exploratory Drilling and 2) Ministerial Response to the Regional Assessment Committee Report for Offshore Exploratory Drilling East of Newfoundland and Labrador William A. Montevecchi (mont@mun.ca) Robert J. Blackmore Sydney M. Collins Marina W. Montevecchi Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador Background Here we review and provide constructive feedback on 1) the Draft TOR for the Follow-up Assessment Program of Environmental Requirements for NL Offshore Exploratory Drilling (October 28, 2020) and 2) the Ministerial Response to the Regional Assessment Committee Report for Offshore Exploratory Drilling East of Newfoundland and Labrador (June 4, 2020). We have previously reviewed and provided comments and suggestions on the 1) Regional Assessment of Offshore Oil and Gas Exploratory Drilling East of Newfoundland and Labrador Final Report (February 29, 2020) and 2) Geographic Information System (GIS) Decision-Support Tool of the Regional Assessment of Offshore Oil and Gas Exploratory Drilling East of Newfoundland and Labrador (May 31, 2020). mailto:mont@mun.ca Preamble We acknowledge that the local IAA committee encouraged input and facilitated an open discussion of all perspectives regarding the proposal for a ministerial regulation to replace a rigorous environmental assessment program. We also acknowledge that they created an impressive GIS-tool to help gauge environmental interactions on the Grand Bank. Yet, in our opinion, the GIS-tool is no substitute for rigorous site-specific environmental assessment. The tool should, ...
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Attachment Draft Terms of Reference for the Regional Assessment of Offshore Oil and Gas Exploratory Drilling East of Newfoundland and Labrador - Follow-up Program

  • Regional Assessment of Offshore Oil and Gas Exploratory Drilling East of Newfoundland and Labrador
  • Author: Administrator on behalf of Maw-lukutijik Saqmaq (Assembly of Nova Scotia Mi'kmaw Chiefs)
  • Reference number: 273
  • Submitted: 2020-11-24
  • Please see the attached submission.
  • Attachment included
  • Page 1 of 5 November 24, 2020 Luc S. Desroches Crown Consultation Lead Impact Assessment Agency of Canada 1801 Hollis Street, Suite 200 Halifax, NS B3J 3N4 Fax: (902) 422-1799 Email: luc.desroches@canada.ca Re: Draft Terms of Reference for the Regional Assessment of Offshore Oil and Gas Exploratory Drilling East of Newfoundland and Labrador – Follow-up Program Mr. Desroches, I write to acknowledge receipt of the Draft Terms of Reference for the Regional Assessment of Offshore Oil and Gas Exploratory Drilling East of Newfoundland and Labrador – Follow-up Program. Kwilmu’kw Maw-Klusuaqn Negotiation Office (KMKNO), on behalf of the Maw- lukutijik Saqmaq (Assembly of Nova Scotia Mi’kmaw Chiefs), has conducted an internal review and wish to provide you with the following concerns, comments and/or recommendations. The Mi’kmaq depend on the lands, waters, and resources in Mi’kma’ki and have never surrendered, ceded, or sold title to any of its lands and waters. We are traditionally a people of the water and we continue to rely on fish for Food, Social and Ceremonial (FSC) purposes and to provide us with the moderate livelihood promised in the Treaties of 1760-1761 — as yet unimplemented almost 20 years after the decision in R. v. Marshall. Aboriginal fishing rights are guaranteed and protected by the Supreme Court of Canada and we engage in Food, Social and Ceremonial fisheries to feed our families and non-rights based commercial fisheries through Aboriginal communal commercial licenses. Consequently, any legislation, regulation, policy or guideline, or project which affects marine areas, fish, fish habitat, or the fisheries is of grave concern to us. At p.5 of the ...
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Attachment Draft Terms of Reference for the Regional Assessment of Offshore Oil and Gas Exploratory Drilling East of Newfoundland and Labrador - Follow-up Program

  • Regional Assessment of Offshore Oil and Gas Exploratory Drilling East of Newfoundland and Labrador
  • Author: Administrator on behalf of Kwilmu'kw Maw-Klusuaqn Negotiation Office
  • Reference number: 272
  • Submitted: 2020-11-24
  • Please see the attached submission.
  • Attachment included
  • Page 1 of 5 November 24, 2020 Luc S. Desroches Crown Consultation Lead Impact Assessment Agency of Canada 1801 Hollis Street, Suite 200 Halifax, NS B3J 3N4 Fax: (902) 422-1799 Email: luc.desroches@canada.ca Re: Draft Terms of Reference for the Regional Assessment of Offshore Oil and Gas Exploratory Drilling East of Newfoundland and Labrador – Follow-up Program Mr. Desroches, I write to acknowledge receipt of the Draft Terms of Reference for the Regional Assessment of Offshore Oil and Gas Exploratory Drilling East of Newfoundland and Labrador – Follow-up Program. Kwilmu’kw Maw-Klusuaqn Negotiation Office (KMKNO), on behalf of the Maw- lukutijik Saqmaq (Assembly of Nova Scotia Mi’kmaw Chiefs), has conducted an internal review and wish to provide you with the following concerns, comments and/or recommendations. The Mi’kmaq depend on the lands, waters, and resources in Mi’kma’ki and have never surrendered, ceded, or sold title to any of its lands and waters. We are traditionally a people of the water and we continue to rely on fish for Food, Social and Ceremonial (FSC) purposes and to provide us with the moderate livelihood promised in the Treaties of 1760-1761 — as yet unimplemented almost 20 years after the decision in R. v. Marshall. Aboriginal fishing rights are guaranteed and protected by the Supreme Court of Canada and we engage in Food, Social and Ceremonial fisheries to feed our families and non-rights based commercial fisheries through Aboriginal communal commercial licenses. Consequently, any legislation, regulation, policy or guideline, or project which affects marine areas, fish, fish habitat, or the fisheries is of grave concern to us. At p.5 of the ...
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Attachment Final Report and Recommendations are Insufficient

  • Regional Assessment of Offshore Oil and Gas Exploratory Drilling East of Newfoundland and Labrador
  • Author: Nicholas White
  • Reference number: 240
  • Submitted: 2020-04-30 - 3:53 PM
  • Dear Regional Assessment Committee, I want to express that I have serious concerns about the Regional Assessment (RA) process, timelines, the final report, and its implications for our marine environment and known habitats set aside for biodiversity protection. Considering the complexity of this large Study Area, the trans-boundary concerns, and the potential to circumvent project-specific assessments for exploratory drilling, the RA process should have had at least the same timeline as strategic and site-specific assessments. There are numerous data deficiencies, omissions, and oversights in the report as discussed below. As such, this report must be considered incomplete and its proposed recommendations insufficient at addressing impacts to the natural environment. The cumulative effects assessment largely consisted of an incomplete collection (“data dump”) of spatial data layers. The recommendation that the government assumes responsibility for offshore-related cumulative effects assessment, despite their mention in the Terms of Reference for the Committee and the Impact Assessment Act, is unacceptable. A thorough and complete assessment must be completed prior to the development (or exclusion) of any cumulative effects recommendations. There is no recommendation for adequate protection of ecologically sensitive areas, such as Ecologically and Biologically Significant Areas, Fisheries Closure Areas, Marine Refuges, Sensitive Benthic Areas, and internationally-recognized Vulnerable Marine ...

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Attachment Comments on the Draft Geographic Information System Decision-Support Tool

  • Regional Assessment of Offshore Oil and Gas Exploratory Drilling East of Newfoundland and Labrador
  • Author: Administrator on behalf of Gretchen Fitzgerald
  • Reference number: 230
  • Submitted: 2020-04-03
  • Project phase: Environmental Assessment Decision
  • Participation notice: Public Notice - Public Comments Invited on the draft Regional Assessment Report
  • Please find attached our comments on the Draft Geographic Information System Decision-Support Tool developed for the Regional Assessment of Offshore Oil and Gas Exploratory Drilling East of Newfoundland and Labrador.
  • Attachment included
  • April 4, 2020 RE:​ Comments on the Draft Geographic Information System Decision-Support Tool Developed for the Regional Assessment of Offshore Oil and Gas Exploratory Drilling East of Newfoundland and Labrador To the Regional Assessment Committee: Please find attached our comments on the Draft Geographic Information System Decision-Support Tool Developed for the Regional Assessment of Offshore Oil and Gas Exploratory Drilling East of Newfoundland and Labrador. We recognize the deadline for comments was March 31, but due to difficulties accessing the GIS Tool (which we suspect was related to intensified internet activity related to Covid-19) and the need for us to respond and support to the health and safety needs of our staff and contractors during the Covid-19 crisis, we respectfully request leniency with regard to this deadline. Sincerely, Gretchen Fitzgerald National Programs Director BN/Registration Number 119149789 RR0001   PO Box 2007 STN B, Ottawa ON K1P 5W3  Phone: (613) 241-4611 - Toll Free: 1-888-810-4204    www.sierraclub.ca - Email: sccfoundation@sierraclub.ca 
  • Attachment included
  • 1 Submission to the Regional Assessment (RA) Committee April 4, 2020 Comments and Recommendations on Select Modules in the GIS Tool In this submission, SCCF provides brief comments and recommendations on three of the modules contained in the GIS tool:  Module 1: Regulatory Context for Offshore Exploratory Drilling in the Study Area  Module 14: Overview of Potential Effects: Atmospheric Emissions  Module 15: Future Offshore Exploratory Drilling Scenarios We also discuss, within the comments on Module 15, the need for a dedicated, separate module on cumulative effects. Module 1: Regulatory Context for Offshore Exploratory Drilling in the Study Area No mention of the Impact Assessment Act Surprisingly, Module 1 contains no mention of the Impact Assessment Act (IAA) as part of the regulatory context for offshore exploratory drilling in the Study Area. SCCF presumes this is an oversight, since, as the Final Report notes, while begun under previous federal assessment legislation, “the Regional Assessment was planned and carried out with a view to its completion, submission and eventual use under the relevant provisions of the new federal Impact Assessment Act (Sections 92-103), which eventually came into force on August 28, 2019”.1 The absence of any mention of the IAA, which creates important provisions requiring consideration of climate change impacts and the ability of the government to meet its GHG emissions reduction obligations, is a serious lacuna in Module 1 that must be addressed. No mention of the new federal regulations on reducing methane emissions in the oil and gas sector Module 1 makes no reference to Canada’s new methane ...
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Attachment NOTICE: Regional Assessment - GIS Tool - Comment deadline extended to March 31 / AVIS: Évaluation régionale - l'outil du SIG - Date limite pour commentaires prolongée jusqu'au 31 mars

  • Regional Assessment of Offshore Oil and Gas Exploratory Drilling East of Newfoundland and Labrador
  • Author: Administrator on behalf of Fish, Food and Allied Workers Union
  • Reference number: 227
  • Submitted: 2020-04-01
  • Participation notice: Public Notice - Public Comments Invited on the draft Regional Assessment Report
  • Good afternoon,   Please see the attached comments submitted on behalf of FFAW-Unifor.   Kind regards,   Robyn Robyn Lee Petroleum Industry Liaison Fish, Food and Allied Workers (FFAW) Union Phone: (709) 576-7276 Email: rlee@ffaw.ca
  • Attachment included
  • 1 Tuesday, March 31, 2020 Regional Assessment Committee Offshore Oil and Gas Exploratory Drilling East of Newfoundland and Labrador c/o John Cabot Building, 10 Barter's Hill, Suite 301 St. John's, NL A1C 6M1 Re: FFAW-Unifor Comments regarding the GIS Decision Support Tool for the Regional Assessment of Offshore Oil and Gas Exploratory Drilling East of Newfoundland Dear Committee Members, Please accept Fish, Food and Allied Workers’ Union (FFAW-Unifor) comments regarding the GIS Decision Support Tool as part of the Regional Assessment for Offshore Exploratory Drilling East of Newfoundland. FFAW-Unifor members are concerned about how additional exploration drilling in our offshore will further affect the traditional fishing grounds of harvesters. As we have commented on previous strategic and project-specific environmental assessment documents, the potential for projects to interact with and directly affect the fishing industry will be highly dependent on the nature, location, timing, activities and the equipment and/ or gear involved. While it is easy for oil and gas companies to isolate their activities into specific projects, it is challenging for the fishing industry to do this with the knowledge that there are many exploratory and developmental activities being planned in the next decade as the oil and gas industry continues to expand in the Newfoundland and Labrador offshore. From a fishing industry perspective, the GIS Decision Support Tool is a step forward with the ability to overlay fisheries data over proposed exploratory drilling areas (licences). This is rarely documented in project-specific assessments and has not been done in Strategic ...
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Attachment Comments GIS decision-support tool

  • Regional Assessment of Offshore Oil and Gas Exploratory Drilling East of Newfoundland and Labrador
  • Author: Administrator on behalf of Nalcor Energy - Oil and Gas
  • Reference number: 228
  • Submitted: 2020-04-01
  • Participation notice: Public Notice - Public Comments Invited on the draft Regional Assessment Report
  • Hi Erin, I hope this email finds you doing well! I've attached our comments on the GIS tool. I thought it easier to email these than post on the website. Thanks again for the opportunity to provide feedback. Mike     Mike White Team Lead, Technical Services Nalcor Energy - Oil and Gas t. 709 778-6605  c. 709 691-2627   e. MikeWhite@nalcorenergy.com w. nalcorenergy.com (http://nalcorenergy.com/) You owe it to yourself, and your family, to make it home safely every day. What have you done today so that nobody gets hurt?
  • Attachment included
  • Mr. Garth Bangay Mr. Wes Foote Co-Chair, Regional Assessment Committee Co-Chair, Regional Assessment Committee Impact Assessment Agency Impact Assessment Agency 10 Barters Hilt, Suite 301 10 Barters Hill, Suite 301 St. Johns, NL, 6M1 St. Johns, NL, 6M1 Dear Regional Assessment Committee Co-Chairs, Thank you for this opportunity to provide feedback on the Geographic Information System decision-support tool released on February 27th, 2020, developed as part of the Regional Assessment of Offshore Oil and Gas Exploratory Drilling East of Newfoundland and Labrador. We would like to commend CEAA on taking the initiative to create the GIS application and for taking the approach of creating a digital look to the Regional Assessment. This approach should now set the framework for future Regional Assessments in NL’s offshore. While the GIS application is a great approach, there are a few adjustments we feel are required to make the application more valuable to the end user and are outlined below: Having access to the full report within the application is a good idea although at times reading the material through the application is difficult and a little overwhelming. A recommendation could be having separate links to the material such that it would open on separate tabs from the application and then the application could be used more for the GIS component. It would also be beneficial for the end user to have the ability to download all material including the individual shapefiles/layers and the associated sections of the report within the application. This would make it easier to read/interpret the material. Oil and Gas companies have internal software used to analyze ...
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Attachment NOTICE: Regional Assessment - GIS Tool - Comment deadline extended to March 31 / AVIS: Évaluation régionale - l'outil du SIG - Date limite pour commentaires prolongée jusqu'au 31 mars

  • Regional Assessment of Offshore Oil and Gas Exploratory Drilling East of Newfoundland and Labrador
  • Author: Administrator on behalf of Qualipu First Nation
  • Reference number: 226
  • Submitted: 2020-03-31
  • Participation notice: Public Notice - Public Comments Invited on the draft Regional Assessment Report
  • Please see attachment
  • Attachment included
  • <Original signed by>

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Attachment Review of GIS Tool

  • Regional Assessment of Offshore Oil and Gas Exploratory Drilling East of Newfoundland and Labrador
  • Author: Administrator on behalf of Bill Montevecchi, Robert Blackmore, Sydney Collins, Kyle d'Entremont
  • Reference number: 225
  • Submitted: 2020-03-30
  • Participation notice: Public Notice - Public Comments Invited on the draft Regional Assessment Report
  • Dear Erin:   Attached please find our "Review of Geographic Information System (GIS) Decision-Support Tool of the Regional Assessment of Offshore Oil and Gas Exploratory Drilling East of Newfoundland and Labrador".   We hope this is helpful in the regional committee's work.   We also hope that everyone is safe and well.   Bill Montevecchi, Robert Blackmore, Sydney Collins, Kyle d'Entremont   W. A. Montevecchi, Ph.D. John Lewis Paton Distinguished University Professor University Research Professor Psychology, Biology, Ocean Sciences Memorial University of Newfoundland St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador A1B 3X9 Canada   Tel. = 709-864-7673 Fax = 709-864-4000 Cell. = <personal information removed> Email = mont@mun.ca Website: http://play.psych.mun.ca/~mont/
  • Attachment included
  • Review of Geographic Information System (GIS) Decision-Support Tool of the Regional Assessment of Offshore Oil and Gas Exploratory Drilling East of Newfoundland and Labrador W. A. Montevecchi, R. J. Blackmore, S. M. Collins, K. J. d’Etremont Memorial University of Newfoundland Overview The GIS tool is attractive and seemingly user-friendly. We do however have some concerns about its capability, utility and real-time relevance. The data layers in the Physical Environment contain only information on bathymetry and atmospheric light. Layers for ocean temperature, salinity, sea ice, icebergs, etc. need to be included. Without access to these and related data the Physical Environment provides very little environmental information. Data access is too restricted owing to confidentiality agreements and even unnecessarily restricted. For instance, the GIS tool restricts access to fisheries data, even though these data are available to the public via the NAFO site. We have concerns about the establishment of the oversight committee and the real-time updating of data. Many incomplete GIS tool functions indicated in the tool webinar, e.g. lack of layer transparency, need completion. It is a major concern that there will no longer be an environmental assessment of oil spill scenarios but rather a negotiation between the companies and the C-NLOPB - a vague, far from transparent and questionable process. The capability to download the text of the tool in a PDF format would be very useful, especially since the option to download the maps currently exists. Some of the legends do not contain very much detail. For example, Chlorophyll A legend only ...
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Attachment NON

  • Regional Assessment of Offshore Oil and Gas Exploratory Drilling East of Newfoundland and Labrador
  • Author: Lyne Pelchat
  • Reference number: 223
  • Submitted: 2020-03-28 - 10:46 AM
  • Bonjour, Je trouve mal honnête et dégoûtant de votre pars d'essayer de passé ses règlements pro pétrolier sous le nez des canadiens en temps de crises! NON on en veux pas, pe pétrole est le combustible du passé, en mer dangereux pour l'environnement la planète est bien assez mal en point sans en rajouté une couche. Investissez donc dans les énergie du futur passé pour un partis visionnaires au lieu d'un partis sounois et mal honnête qui ne respecte pas sa population.... Vous nous cracher au visage avec ce projet... on es au début de la crise et vous essayé de nous entourlouper! Déjà que votre gestion de la crise est médiocres mais si vous continuez a allée de l'avant vous passerez pour le gouvernement le plus degeulasse et incompétent que le canada es connue.

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Attachment En parfait désaccord.

  • Regional Assessment of Offshore Oil and Gas Exploratory Drilling East of Newfoundland and Labrador
  • Author: Sarah Dutil
  • Reference number: 222
  • Submitted: 2020-03-25 - 7:07 PM
  • Comme citoyens canadiens, nous comprenons très bien que l'industrie pétrolière occupe une place importante dans l'économie canadienne. Cependant, cette proposition d'accélérer les forages en haute mer est proprement irrecevable. Les évaluations environnementales sont une part essentielle de tout projet de ce type, qu'il soit effectué en mer ou sur la terre ferme. Que le gouvernement envisage de les soustraire à ce processus en dit long sur ses priorités et m'apparaît comme proprement scandaleux. Le fait que cette consultation soit maintenue malgré la crise sanitaire et sociale que nous vivons se passe, convenons-en, de commentaire: les faits parlent par eux-même.

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Attachment Un projet irresponsable et inaceptable

  • Regional Assessment of Offshore Oil and Gas Exploratory Drilling East of Newfoundland and Labrador
  • Author: Jean-David Morneau
  • Reference number: 221
  • Submitted: 2020-03-25 - 4:49 PM
  • Comme citoyen canadiens, nous comprenons très bien que l'industrie pétrolière occupe une place importante dans l'économie canadienne. Cependant, cette proposition d'accélérer les forages en haute mer est proprement irrecevable. Les évaluations environnementales sont une part essentielle de tout projet de ce type, qu'il soit effectué en mer ou sur la terre ferme. Que le gouvernement envisage de les soustraire à ce processus en dit long sur ses priorités et m'apparaît comme proprement scandaleux. Le fait que cette consultation soit maintenue malgré la crise sanitaire et sociale que nous vivons se passe, convenons-en, de commentaire: les faits parlent par eux-même.

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Attachment Non au forage

  • Regional Assessment of Offshore Oil and Gas Exploratory Drilling East of Newfoundland and Labrador
  • Author: Karine Galbrand
  • Reference number: 219
  • Submitted: 2020-03-25 - 7:52 AM
  • En cet ère de changements climatiques induit par nos activités humaines en lien avec le pétrole, je crois qu'il est tout à fait innapproprié de continuer le forage. Il faut investir maintenant et massivement dans les énergies propres et renouvelables. Vous avez un devoir envers les citoyens de nous écouter et de protéger notre avenir. 

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Attachment RCEE, demande d'information

  • Regional Assessment of Offshore Oil and Gas Exploratory Drilling East of Newfoundland and Labrador
  • Author: Administrator on behalf of Karine Galbrand
  • Reference number: 224
  • Submitted: 2020-03-25
  • Participation notice: Public Notice - Public Comments Invited on the draft Regional Assessment Report
  • Bonjour, Je trouve inacceptable que le gouvernement en ces temps de crise sanitaire autorise le forage. Nous sommes à l'urgence climatique. Des mesures doivent être prises en ce sens.    Karine Galbrand 

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Attachment Evaluation regionale du forage extracotier

  • Regional Assessment of Offshore Oil and Gas Exploratory Drilling East of Newfoundland and Labrador
  • Author: Mario Leblanc
  • Reference number: 218
  • Submitted: 2020-03-24 - 8:38 AM
  • Bonjour à tous, Malgre la pandémie actuelle, je trouve important de prendre un peu de temps pour vous signifiez mon désaccord total à ce projet de modification réglementaire visant à l'exclusion des forages exploratoires extracotiers à l'obligation d'une évaluation environnementale! Tant que le Canada n'aura pas fait la démonstration claire de la réduction réelle de ses émissions de gaz à effet de serre afin de ralentir le réchauffement climatique, il est hors de question de penser à diminuer la qualité et la quantité des études d'évaluation environnementale pour tous les projets susceptibles de causer une émission de gaz à effet de serre, ce qui inclut évidemment tout projet relié aux hydrocarbures! Merci de l'attention portée à mes commentaires ci-hauts. Salutations distinguées. Mario Leblanc

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Attachment Hypocrisie

  • Regional Assessment of Offshore Oil and Gas Exploratory Drilling East of Newfoundland and Labrador
  • Author: francisplourde .Plourde
  • Reference number: 217
  • Submitted: 2020-03-23 - 9:05 AM
  • Je trouve que le moment est très mal choisi en cette crise sanitaire pour traiter d'enjeux aussi importants que les forages pétroliers en mer. Vous offrez une fenêtre de 30 jours pour que la population puisse s'exprimer alors que tout le monde a la tête ailleurs... Pour parvenir à vos fins et plaire au lobby du pétrole, le moment est idéal. Mais je considère ce geste comme de l'hypocrisie pure et simple. Un peu de jugement s'il vous plaît. Vous êtes les gens censés nous représenter...nous, le peuple canadien. 

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Attachment NL Comments on NL RA GIS Tool

  • Regional Assessment of Offshore Oil and Gas Exploratory Drilling East of Newfoundland and Labrador
  • Author: Administrator on behalf of Nunatsiavut Government
  • Reference number: 220
  • Submitted: 2020-03-23
  • Participation notice: Public Notice - Public Comments Invited on the draft Regional Assessment Report
  • Good morning, Please see the attached Letter and comments from the Nunatsiavut Government on the GIS Decision-Support Tool for the Regional Assessment for the Newfoundland Offshore. It is important to note we are disappointed that most of the Nunatsiavut Government concerns and issues with the Regional Assessment were not or were only partially addressed in the Final Report for the RA. The RA Committee should expect two more letters from the Nunatsiavut Government regarding the lack of changes in the Final Report and separate one addressing the Regulations that are currently being developed in absence of any substantial changes to the Final Report for the Regional Assessment. Thanks, -Rodd -- Rodd Laing Director of Environment Nunatsiavut Government P.O. Box 70 Nain, NL  A0P 1L0 Phone: 709-922-2567 (Office) or 709-922-2380 (Research Centre) Fax: 709-922-2931
  • Attachment included
  • Regional Assessment Committee c/o Virginia Crawford Senior Advisor, Indigenous Consultations, Strategic and Regional Environmental Assessments Impact Assessment Agency of Canada/ Government of Canada Email: virginia.crawford@canada.ca Tel: March 23, 2020 Subject: Nunatsiavut Government comments and suggestions on the GIS decision-support tool for the Regional Assessment of Offshore Oil and Gas Exploratory Drilling East of Newfoundland and Labrador. Dear Ms. Crawford, Please accept this letter in response to the request for comments on the Draft Geographic Information System Decision-Support Tool, developed as part of the Regional Assessment of Offshore Oil and Gas Exploratory Drilling East of Newfoundland and Labrador. The Nunatsiavut Government applauds the efforts made to produce a more accessible, interactive tool for viewing and engaging with data sources that inform the Regional Assessment. It is essential for governments at all levels to support efforts like this, including expanding and revising initiatives as necessary, to create better opportunities for engagement on these important issues. You will find below comments on both the content and the functionality of the GIS tool and associated modules. Please note for each comment there are suggested measures that address the issue that are also included. Unfortunately, most of our comments here are similar to those we sent during the first phase of consultations or about the draft Regional Assessment report, which were left unaddressed. The Nunatsiavut Government requests that a response be provided as to why those suggestions were not addressed. A number of important and often basic features and functionalities are ...
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Attachment Emailing: Regional Assessment Response

  • Regional Assessment of Offshore Oil and Gas Exploratory Drilling East of Newfoundland and Labrador
  • Author: Administrator on behalf of Stephen Bonnell
  • Reference number: 241
  • Submitted: 2020-03-11
  • Project phase: Environmental Assessment Report
  • Participation notice: Public Notice - Public Comments Invited on the draft Regional Assessment Report
  • Please see attached.
  • Attachment included
  • The Hon. Jonathan Wilkinson House of Commons Ottawa, Ontario Canada, K1A 0A6 February 21, 2020 (VIA EMAIL) Dear Minister Wilkinson, RE: Regional Assessment of Offshore Oil and Gas Exploratory Drilling East of Newfoundland and Labrador Northeast Avalon Atlantic Coastal Action Plan (NAACAP) is a community advocacy group that promotes the science-based advocacy for conservation of coastal environments and wetlands on the Northeast Avalon Peninsula of St. John’s, NL. As the Minister responsible for the Impact Assessment Act (IAA), NAACAP recognizes your authority regarding the Regional Assessment of Offshore Oil and Gas Exploratory Drilling East of Newfoundland and Labrador (RA). The draft recommendations released by the Regional Assessment Committee on December 4th contain cursory references to the effects of offshore exploration and drilling on water quality, but fail to include even qualitative references to any specific metric of marine water quality; i.e. water temperature, turbidity, salinity, or pH. Given the potential of this RA to pre- empt or supersede project and site-specific environmental assessments (EAs), there is a requisite rigour that must be applied to the process. The draft recommendations do not meet, let alone exceed, the current mandate of existing EAs. The paucity of references to water quality is indicative of the broader shortcomings of the current draft recommendations with respect to the assessment of the effects of offshore exploration and drilling. References to atmospheric effects and cumulative effects are similarly cursory, and effects related to climate change are omitted entirely from the draft. NAACAP wishes to echo the suggestion of other ...
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