Science Response 2013/018

Science Review of the Revised (2013) Old Harry Prospect Exploration Drilling Program

Context

• On December 20, 2011, Corridor Resources Inc. filed its updated Environmental Assessment of the Old Harry Prospect Exploration Drilling Program along with the Old Harry Drilling Mud and Cuttings Dispersion Modeling Final Report and Modeling in Support of Corridor Resources Old Harry Exploratory Drilling Environmental Assessment with the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board (C-NLOPB). In January 2012, the Environmental Assessment and Major Projects (EAMP) division of the Ecosystems Management Branch in the Newfoundland and Labrador Region requested that DFO Science undertake a review of these documents with a review deadline of February 17, 2012.
• Given that DFO is not the final advisory body for this request (through the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (CEAA) process), and the short timeline to carry out a review, a DFO Science Special Response Process (SSRP) was undertaken on March 5, 2012.  Science expertise within Fisheries and Oceans, across the Newfoundland and Labrador, Quebec, Maritimes, and Gulf Regions, was solicited to address this review and Science advice was provided (DFO 2013).
• In April 2013, the Fisheries Protection Program (FPP) of the Ecosystems Management Branch received a Revised EA Report and Supporting Documents that included a Disposition Table of Regulatory Information Requests and Responses, and an Oil Spill Fate and Behaviour Modelling in Support of Corridor Resources Old Harry Exploratory Drilling Environmental Assessment Report Update. In May 2013, FPP selected a number of issues from the Disposition Table to create a shortened Disposition Table of select DFO Information Requests and Responses, and requested Science to review this and using the revised EA and related documents for reference, determine if the Proponent’s responses were adequate.
• Again, Science expertise within Fisheries and Oceans, across the Newfoundland and Labrador, Quebec, Maritimes, and Gulf Regions, was solicited to address this review. Identified participants provided a review of the documentation to be collated before a draft of the prepared response underwent a group evaluation for consensus upon the final Science Response. It should be noted that DFO Science comments were limited to the areas of the report where expertise was available at the time of the review.
• The objective of this process was to provide review and comment on the relevant documents with respect to the following context:
• Environmental Assessment of the Old Harry Prospect Exploration Drilling Program – Is information presented complete and based on the most recent information (and modelling as applicable) available? Does it adequately consider the present state of knowledge, and are the uncertainties adequately described and incorporated in the conclusions?
• Oil Spill Fate and Behaviour Modelling in Support of Corridor Resources Old Harry Exploratory Drilling Environmental Assessment Report Update – 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?
• Disposition Table of Regulatory Information Requests and Responses - Are the responses and additional information provided adequate (i.e.: complete and based on the most recent information (and modelling as applicable) available)?
• The review found that overall the quality of scientific content presented in the revised environmental assessment (EA) document has improved from the original document.  However, this statement applies only to those areas of the report that were identified by FPP to require this current Science review.
• The review found that the updated Oil Spill Fate and Behaviour Modelling report, has not adequately addressed many of the issues raised by DFO Science during the original review. Science remains concerned that the risks are underestimated and the conclusions are not realistic.
• This Science Response report results from the Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat, Zonal Science Special Response Process (SSRP) of July 2013 on the Review of Old Harry Prospect Exploration Drilling Program Revised Environmental Assessment.

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