From the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency to Statoil Canada Ltd. re: Potential Coordination of the Environmental Assessment for the Flemish Pass Exploration Drilling Project and Potential Environmental Assessment of the Eastern Newfoundland Offshore Exploration Drilling Project

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Document Reference Number: 13

Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
Suite 200
1801 Hollis Street
Halifax NS B3J 3N4

Agence canadienne d'évaluation environnementale
Bureau 200
1801 rue Hollis
Halifax, NE B3J 3N4

November 3, 2016

Agency File No.: 005577

Stephanie Curran
Regulatory Lead
Statoil Canada Ltd.
2 Steers Cove
Level 3, Cormack Building
St John's, NL A1C 6J5
scurr@statoil.com

Dear Ms. Curran:

SUBJECT: Potential Coordination of the Environmental Assessment for the Flemish Pass Exploration Drilling Project and Potential Environmental Assessment of the Eastern Newfoundland Offshore Exploration Drilling Project

Further to our discussion on October 28, 2016, Statoil Canada Ltd. (Statoil) has indicated that it wishes to pursue opportunities to coordinate the environmental assessment (EA) of the Flemish Pass Exploration Drilling Project with the potential EA of ExxonMobil Canada Ltd.'s (ExxonMobil) Eastern Newfoundland Offshore Exploration Drilling Project, should it be determined that an EA of the latter project is required.

The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency requires the following information from Statoil before it can finalize the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Guidelines for the Flemish Pass Exploration Drilling Project.

  • Confirm whether Statoil wishes to coordinate the analysis phase of its EA with the potential EA of ExxonMobil's Eastern Newfoundland Offshore Exploration Drilling Project including submission of a joint EIS and coordinating responses to subsequent information requests?
  • If yes, identify a single point of contact, which would represent both proponents during the analysis phase of the EIS including responsibility for (1) submission of the EIS and (2) responding to information requests.

As you are aware, Canadian Environmental Assessment Act 2012, (CEAA, 2012) timelines do not include the period taken by proponents to comply with the requirement to provide information necessary for the conduct of an EA. In the case of coordinated EAs, proponents would be required to submit information (e.g. EIS, responses to information requests) in relation to both projects, in order for CEAA, 2012 timelines to resume.

In accordance with section 27 (6) of the CEAA, 2012, the time it takes Statoil to respond to this request is not included in the time limit within which the Minister of Environment's decision must be made.

If you have any questions or wish to discuss, please do not hesitate to contact Friederike Kirstein at 902-426-0564.

Sincerely,

<Original signed by>

Mike Atkinson
Regional Director, Atlantic Region

Cc:
Dave Burley, C-NLOPB
Andrew McNeil, ExxonMobil

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