Request for Review of Proponent Responses to IRs for BHP Canada Exploration Project

Reference Number
136
Text

Hi Joe,

As I mentioned in a previous email, we have reviewed the proponent’s responses and have no further information requests. We did want to provide one clarifying comment for your information:

For IR-01, with respect to potential overlapping sound effects if there were to be 2 MODUs used for simultaneous drilling, we refer to page 35 of the EIS summary (paragraph 4), which provides a summary of the sound modelling completed for the project. The modelling indicates that the ranges to acoustic thresholds for all sound sources are distances that would fall within a 500 m radius of each MODU. As you know, the NL Offshore Drilling and Production regulations require a 500 m safety zone surrounding each MODU. Based on the results of the modeling, the required safety zones would mitigate the potential for overlapping sound effects if there were to be simultaneous drilling.

Please let me know if you have any questions. Thanks,

Ian

From: BHPCanada (IAAC/AEIC) [mailto:iaac.bhpcanada.aeic@canada.ca]
Sent: June 29, 2020 5:31 PM
Subject: Request for Review of Proponent Responses to IRs for BHP Canada Exploration Project

Good afternoon:

As I mentioned to some of you last week, the Agency has received responses from the proponent to the Information Requirements (IRs), required clarifications, and the request for information issued in relation to the BHP Canada Exploration Drilling Project. The Agency has undertaken a conformity review of the responses and has determined that they contain adequate information to inform a technical review, which will include input from expert federal departments.

Please find attached the proponent’s responses for your review. The document will also be posted on the Canadian Impact Assessment Registry (https://iaac-aeic.gc.ca/050/evaluations/proj/80174?&culture=fr-CA).

Technical comments on the attached responses, including any follow-up information requirements, are requested by July 8, 2020.

Although your review of the entire document is requested, certain responses may be more directly related to your individual mandates:

DFO: IRs-01, 02, 03, 05, 06, 07, and the response to the request for additional information

ECCC: IRs-04 and 09

C-NLOPB: IRs-01, 02, 10, 11, 12, and CL-03

If your department is satisfied with the additional information provided by the proponent, and has no follow-up questions, please confirm in your response that the information provided in the proponent’s EIS and IR responses is sufficient to inform your department’s advice on the effects analysis and conclusions, as well as required mitigation and follow-up programs.

Important Note: In accordance with CEAA 2012, comments received and other documents submitted or generated to inform the environmental assessment are part of the project file. Accordingly, information submitted to the Agency that is relevant to the environmental assessment of the project is available to the public upon request and may also be posted on the online public registry under reference number 80174. The Agency will remove information, such as signatures, prior to public disclosure. Should you provide any documents that contain confidential or sensitive information that you believe should not be made public, please contact me.

Regards,

Joe Vigder, MREM

Project Manager, Atlantic Region

Impact Assessment Agency of Canada / Government of Canada

 Gestionnaire de projets, région atlantique
Agence d’évaluation d’impact du Canada / Gouvernement du Canada

 

Submitted by
Administrator on behalf of Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board (C-NLOPB)
Phase
N/A
Public Notice
N/A
Attachment(s)
N/A
Date Submitted
2020-07-17
Date modified: