From the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency to BP Canada Energy Group ULC re: Request for further elaboration on response to Information Request IR-114 (see reference document # 28)

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Document reference number: 29

Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
1801 Hollis Street Suite 200
Halifax, Nova Scotia
B3J 3N4

Agence canadienne d'évaluation environnementale
1801, rue Hollis, bureau 200
Halifax (Nouvelle-Écosse)
B3J 3N4

June 26, 2017

Agency File: 80109

Ms. Anita Perry
Regional Manager, Nova Scotia
BP Canada Energy Group ULC
Suite 505, CIBC Building
1809 Barrington Street
Halifax, NS B3J 3K8

Dear Ms. Perry:

SUBJECT: Scotian Basin Exploration Drilling Project - Response to Information Request (IR) 114

Dear Ms. Perry:

Thank you for the reply you provided on June 13, 2017 to the Agency's request for further elaboration of BP's response to Information Request (IR) 114. That IR was about potential effects on current use of lands and resources for traditional purposes and socio-economic conditions for Indigenous communities. On June 5, the Agency asked for:

1. a schedule of planned engagement activities; and
2. the date by which BP will report its findings and provide an updated assessment of effects, in writing, to the Agency.

The Agency has completed its review of your response, which provides the schedule for your upcoming engagement meetings with Mi'gmawe'l Tplu'taqnn Incorporated, the Maliseet Nation of New Brunswick and the Sipekne'katik First Nation, and indicates that meetings are being sought with all other applicable communities. In addition, the response commits BP to providing a report containing an updated assessment of effects to the Agency by July 31, 2017.

The Agency has determined that the June 13 response is adequate to satisfy the current request. The Agency notes that, although meetings have not been set up with each community identified in IR 114, the report to be submitted to the Agency by July 31 must be relevant for all communities, or describe reasonable attempts to obtain this information in the time available. While awaiting the report prior to July 31, the Agency would appreciate updates as meetings are confirmed with other communities, or where it becomes obvious that a meeting cannot be arranged, or the necessary information gathered.

Upon transmission of this letter, and consistent with the Agency's Operational Policy Statement: Information Requests and Timelines (https://www.canada.ca/en/environmental-assessment-agency/news/media-room/media-room-2016/information-requests-timelines.html) the legislated environmental assessment timeline will resume.

With input from expert federal departments and Indigenous peoples, the Agency is continuing its technical review of the other 152 IR responses provided by BP on March 17, 2017, and expects to send follow-up IRs to you in the next few weeks.

Please contact me if you require further information.

Yours truly,

<Original signed by>

Derek McDonald, P.Eng.
Project Manager

c.c.: J. Ray, CNSOPB