Terms of Reference

Review of a Strategic Environmental Assessment for the Southwestern Scotian Slope

Maritimes Region Science Special Response Process (SSRP)

Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
December 10, 2011

Chairperson: Lottie Bennett

Context

On June 30, 2011, the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board (CNSOPB) announced a Call for Bids for eight offshore, deepwater petroleum parcels located on the west Scotian Slope, which closes on January 10, 2012. Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s (DFO) Ecosystem Management Branch, Maritimes Region, is reviewing a Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board (CNSOPB) document entitled “Strategic Environmental Assessment: Petroleum Exploration Activities on the Southwestern Scotian Slope” to identify potential environment-petroleum exploration activities that may exist and need to be considered in regard to future offshore petroleum exploration and development activities in the area. Refer to the CNSOPB Public Registry file number 75,345.6 for more information regarding the SEA of the proposed project.

Objective

The objective of the SSRP is to provide science advice on the following question:

• Does the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board (CNSOPB) Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of the west Scotian Slope adequately outline ecosystem attributes and anticipated ecosystem-offshore petroleum interactions in context of what is known of the marine ecosystem of the west Scotian Slope?

Expected Publications

• DFO Science Response

Participation

• DFO Science Branch