Terms of Reference

Old Harry Prospect Exploration Drilling Program

Zonal Science Special Response Process (SSRP) - Newfoundland and Labrador, Quebec, Maritimes and Gulf Regions

January 2012
St. John's, NL

Chairperson: Nadine Templeman

Context

Corridor Resources Inc. is proposing to carry out exploratory drilling within the Old Harry Prospect offshore western Newfoundland within the Laurentian Channel (Exploration Licence (EL) 1105). As a component of the departmental environmental assessment review under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, Science Branch has been asked by Environmental Assessment and Major Projects, Ecosystems Management Branch, to review the environmental assessment report along with supporting modelling reports submitted by the Corridor Resources.

The submission consists of three reports

1. Environmental Assessment of the Old Harry Prospect Exploration Drilling Program
2. Modeling in Support of Corridor Resources Old Harry Exploratory Drilling Environmental Assessment
3. Old Harry Drilling Mud and Cuttings Dispersion Modelling Final Report

The findings of the SSRP will assist in formulating a departmental response on the environmental assessment report to the Canada-Newfoundland Offshore Petroleum Board (CNLOPB).

Objectives

• Section 2.12 Project-specific Model Inputs and Results – Is the modelling presented complete and based on the most recent information and models available, does it adequately describe the present state of knowledge, and are the uncertainties in the model inputs and outputs adequately described and incorporated in the conclusions?
• Section 4.0 Physical Environment - Is the information presented complete and based on the most recent information and modelling available?
• Sections 5.2.1 Marine Fish Species at Risk, 5.2.3 Marine Mammals Species at Risk, 5.2.4 Sea Turtles, 5.3 Marine Ecosystem, 5.4 Marine Fish and Fish Habitat, 5.6 Marine Mammals and Sea Turtles, 5.7 Sensitive Areas, 5.8 Commercial Fisheries and Other users - Is the information on the biological environment as it relates to the components under the jurisdiction of DFO complete and based on the most recent information and modelling available?
• Section 6.0 Environmental Effects Assessment Methods - Are the proposed VECs and the assessment approach described complete and appropriate?
• Sections 7.2 Species at Risk, 7.3 Marine Ecosystems, 7.4 Marine Fish, Shellfish and Habitat, 7.6 Marine Mammals and Sea Turtles, 7.7 Sensitive Areas, 7.8 Commercial Fisheries and Other Users - Are the environmental effects assessments related to the components under the jurisdiction of DFO complete and based on the most recent information and modelling available?
• Sections 8.4.1 General Oil Pollution Record of the Offshore Oil and Gas Industry, 8.4.2 Historical Large Spills from Offshore Oil Well Blowouts, 8.4.3 Spill Probabilities from Historical Statistics, 8.4.5 Calculated Blowout Frequencies for the Old Harry Project, 8.4.6 Exploration Drilling Blowouts Involving Primarily Gas, 8.4.7 Calculated Blowout Frequencies for the Old Harry Project, 8.5 Nearshore Spills, 8.7 Environmental Effects Assessment (omit Marine Bird sections) - Are the environmental effects assessments associated with accidental events related to the components under the jurisdiction of DFO  complete and based on the most recent information and modelling available?
• Sections 9.1 Species at Risk, 9.2 Marine Ecosystem, 9.3 Marine Fish, Shell Fish and Habitat, 9.5 Marine Mammals and Sea Turtles, 9.6 Sensitive Areas, 9.7 Commercial Fisheries - Are the cumulative environmental effects assessments related to the components under the jurisdiction of DFO complete and based on the most recent information and modelling available?
• Section 10.0 Residual Adverse Environmental Effects Summary - Are the conclusions of the residual adverse environmental effects summarized appropriate and based on the most recent information and modelling available?
• Section 12.0 Effects Of The Environment On The Project - Are the description and the interpretation of the effects of the environment on the project complete and based on the most recent information and modelling available?
• Report 2 - Is the oil spill modelling presented complete and based on the most recent information and models available, does it adequately describe the present state of knowledge of potential distribution patterns, and are the uncertainties in model inputs and outputs adequately described and incorporated in the conclusions?
• Report 3 (Drilling Mud and Cuttings Dispersion) – Is the modelling presented complete and based on the most recent information and models available, does it adequately describe the present state of knowledge, and are the uncertainties in the model inputs and outputs adequately described and incorporated in the conclusions?

Expected Publications

• CSAS Science Response

Participation

• DFO Science NL Region,
• DFO Science Gulf Region,
• DFO Science Quebec Region,
• DFO Science Maritimes Region,
• Environmental Assessment and Major Projects,
• Ecosystems Management Branch, NL Region.

References

AMEC Earth and Environmental, 2011. Old Harry Drilling Mud and Cuttings Dispersion Modelling Final Report. Prepared for Corridor Resources Inc., May 2011.

S.L. Ross Environmental Research Ltd., 2011. Modeling in Support of Corridor Resources Old Harry Exploratory Drilling Environmental Assessment. Prepared for Corridor Resources Inc., October 2011.

Stantec Consulting Ltd., 2011. Environmental Assessment of the Old Harry Prospect Exploration Drilling Program. Prepared for Corridor Resources Inc., December 2011.