From the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency to Equinor Canada Ltd. re: Conformity of the Joint Information Request Responses Related to the Environmental Impact Statement Round 1 (Part 1 and Part 2) (see reference document # 31)

PDF Version 310 KB

Document Reference Number: 32

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

July 20, 2018

Sent by E-mail

Terry Forkheim
Senior Environmental and Regulatory Advisor
Equinor Canada Ltd.
2 Steers Cove, Level 2
St. John's, NL A1C 6J5
TEFOR@equinor.com

Dear Mr. Forkheim,

SUBJECT: Responses to Information Requirements (IRs) for the proposed Flemish Pass Exploration Drilling Project

I am writing to inform you of the results of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency's (Agency) review of Equinor Canada Ltd's (Equinor) responses to the Information Requirements (IRs) Parts I and II, sent to Equinor by the Agency on March 13, 2018 and April 24, 2018, respectively. The Agency requires acceptable responses to IRs in order to complete its review of the EIS and to proceed with the preparation of its Environmental Assessment Report.

The Agency has conducted a conformity review based on the following:

  • May 15, 2018 submission consisting of responses to Part I IRs [IR-01 to IR-65 and clarifications CL-1 to CL-20 (common with Eastern Newfoundland Offshore Exploration Drilling Project), and IR-71 to IR-77 and CL-22 to CL-23 (specific to Flemish Pass Offshore Exploration Drilling Project)]. Responses to IR-08 and IR-16 were not included in this submission.
  • As communicated in the Agency's letter of June 7, 2018, seven responses in the May 15, 2018 submission were determined not to conform, requiring revision and resubmission.
  • July 5, 2018 submission which included Part II IRs (IR 16A, IR-78 to IR-89 and clarifications CL-24 and CL-25), as well as all outstanding Part I IRs (IR-08, IR-16 and seven revised responses resulting from the Agency's previous conformity review).

The Agency has determined that the IR responses are sufficient and will continue with the technical review. The Agency will review the IR responses and will seek input from government expert departments and Indigenous participants. Further information may be requested based on the outcome of the review.

The timeline for the environmental assessment will resume, as of July 21, 2018. For further information, please consult the Agency document Information Requests and Timelines https://www.canada.ca/en/environmental-assessment-agency/news/media-room/media-room-2016/information-requests-timelines.html.

Sincerely,

<Original signed by>

Shauna O'Brien
Project Manager – Atlantic Region
Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency

Cc: Elizabeth Young, Canada - Newfoundland Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board
Kimberley Keats, Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Glenn Troke, Environment and Climate Change Canada
Allison Denning, Health Canada
Jason Flanagan, Transport Canada
Veronica Mossop, Natural Resources Canada
Carla Stevens, Major Projects Management Office

Date modified: