Public Notice
Eastern Newfoundland Offshore Exploration Drilling Project — Public Comments Invited

November 14, 2016 — The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency has commenced a federal environmental assessment for the proposed Eastern Newfoundland Offshore Exploration Drilling Project, located in the Atlantic Ocean, approximately 250 kilometres east of St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador.

The Agency invites the public to comment on which aspects of the environment may be affected by this project and what should be examined during the environmental assessment, as detailed in the draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Guidelines. All comments received will be considered public.

Written comments must be submitted by December 14, 2016 to:

Eastern Newfoundland Offshore Exploration Drilling Project
Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
200-1801 Hollis Street
Halifax, Nova Scotia B3J 3N4
Telephone: 902-426-0564
Email: CEAA.EasternNLOffshore-ExtracotierEstTN.ACEE@ceaa-acee.gc.ca

To view the draft EIS Guidelines or for more information, visit the Agency's website (Registry reference number 80132). Copies are also available upon request.

The Proposed Project

ExxonMobil Canada Ltd. (ExxonMobil) is proposing to conduct an exploration drilling project within offshore exploration licences located in both the Jeanne d'Arc Basin and the Flemish Pass Basin, approximately 250 kilometres east of St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador. As proposed, the Eastern Newfoundland Offshore Exploration Drilling Project would include the drilling of up to 35 wells (exploration or delineation) within a 12-year period, starting in 2018. The project would allow ExxonMobil to determine the presence, nature and quantities of the potential hydrocarbon resource.

The drilling would be within exploration licences currently held by ExxonMobil and its partners. Should ExxonMobil become the operator of additional existing exploration licences in the Eastern Newfoundland Region and/or Jeanne d'Arc Basin or of new exploration licences as a result of the 2016 Call for Bids processes (NL16-CFB01 and NL16-CFB02), these may be incorporated into the scope of the environmental assessment.