Science Response 2018/039
Review of the Environmental Impact Statement for the Nexen Energy Flemish Pass Exploration Drilling Project (2018-2028)
Context
Nexen Energy ULC (Nexen), is planning to conduct a program of petroleum exploration drilling and associated activities in the eastern portion of the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Area over the period 2018 to 2028. The Project Area includes two Exploration Licences (ELs 1144 and 1150) in the Flemish Pass region, as well as a 20 km buffer area surrounding those licences to accommodate the location and extent of ancillary activities that may be carried out in support of such drilling activities. The Project will include exploration drilling within these ELs, possible appraisal (delineation) drilling in the event of a hydrocarbon discovery, vertical seismic profiling (VSP), well testing, eventual well abandonment or suspension activities, and associated supply and service activities.
The Project requires review and approval pursuant to the requirements of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012 (CEAA 2012) as it has been determined to constitute a “designated project” under the associated Regulations Designating Physical Activities. The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (the Agency) determined that a federal environmental assessment (EA) was required for the Project. The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Project has been planned, prepared and submitted by Nexen in accordance with the requirements of CEAA 2012 as well as the Project-specific EIS Guidelines and other generic EA guidance documents issued by the Agency. It has also been designed and completed to address the EA requirements of the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board (C-NLOPB) under the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Atlantic Accord Implementation Act and the Canada- Newfoundland and Labrador Atlantic Accord Implementation Newfoundland and Labrador Act (the Accord Acts).
On April 9, 2018, the Fisheries Protection Program of the Ecosystems Management Branch in the Newfoundland and Labrador Region requested that DFO Science undertake a review of specific sections of the Environmental Impact Statement for the Nexen Energy Flemish Pass Exploration Drilling Project. Science Branch undertook a Science Response Process (SRP) for this review. The information from this scientific review will be provided to Ecosystems Management to help form part of the Department’s response to the overall adequacy of the EIS Reports.
The objective of this review was to evaluate:
- The sufficiency of baseline data and appropriateness of methodologies to predict effects;
- The mitigation measures proposed by the proponent;
- The level of certainty in the conclusions reached by the proponent on the effects;
- The manner in which significance of the environmental effects, as they pertain to DFO’s mandate, have been determined (i.e. the scientific merit of the information presented and the validity of the proponent’s methodologies and conclusions);
- The follow-up program proposed by the proponent; and
- Whether additional information is required from the proponent to complete the technical review.
The information required for this review can be found in a number of sections throughout the EIS report, and associated appendices. The EIS and EIS Summary are available on the Agency’s website at the following links:
Environmental Impact Statement; and Environmental Impact Statement Summary.
This Science Response Report results from the Science Response Process (SRP) of May 9, 2018 on the Review of the Environmental Impact Statement for the Nexen Energy Flemish Pass Exploration Drilling Project.
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