Terms of Reference

Review of Old Harry Prospect Exploration Drilling Program Revised Environmental Assessment

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

July 2013
St. John's, NL

Chairperson: James Meade

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 was asked by Fisheries Protection Program (FPP), Ecosystems Management Branch, to review the environmental assessment (EA) report and supporting modelling reports submitted by the Corridor Resources. Science Branch conducted a Zonal Science Special Response Process (SSRP) and responded to FPP in March 2012. The Proponent has since revised the documents and developed a Disposition Table of Regulatory Information Requests and Responses and has resubmitted for regulatory review.  FPP has selected a number of issues from the Disposition Table to create a shortened Disposition Table of select DFO Information Requests and Responses and has requested Science Branch to review this as well as the revised EA documents.

The current submission consists of three documents:

1. Environmental Assessment of the Old Harry Prospect Exploration Drilling Program Revised Report
2. Oil Spill Fate and Behaviour Modelling in Support of Corridor Resources Old Harry Exploratory Drilling Environmental Assessment Report Update
3. Disposition Table of Select DFO Information Requests and Responses

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

Objectives

The objective of the Science Special Response Process is to provide science advice on the following questions:

• Revised EA Document - Is the information provided in the report, including the Disposition Table, complete and based on the most recent information and models available?
• Oil Spill Fate and Behaviour Modelling Report - 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?

Expected Publications

• CSAS Science Response

Participation

• DFO Science NL Region,
• DFO Science Quebec Region,
• DFO Science Maritimes Region,
• DFO Science Gulf Region
• Ecosystems Management Branch, NL Region.

References

S.L. Ross Environmental Research Ltd., 2012. Oil Spill Fate and Behaviour Modelling in Support of Corridor Resources Old Harry Exploratory Drilling Environmental Assessment Report Update. Prepared for Corridor Resources Inc., December 2012.

Stantec Consulting Ltd., 2013. Environmental Assessment of the Old Harry Prospect Exploration Drilling Program. Prepared for Corridor Resources Inc., February 2013.