No. H070/06For release June 29, 2006
ST. JOHN'S - Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and
Communities, the Honourable Lawrence Cannon, today announced that Transport
Canada and Fisheries and Oceans Canada (Canadian Coast Guard) will be hosting
public consultation sessions at various locations along the south coast of
Newfoundland. The consultations will provide the public with an overview of the
Environmental Risk Assessment Study of the South Coast of Newfoundland and
Labrador.
"We are fully committed to increasing our knowledge of the level of risk facing
the south coast of Newfoundland and Labrador and this study will provide us with
valuable information to assess the level of preparedness and to make adjustments
if necessary," said Mr. Cannon.
The study will assess and quantify the risk facing the southern coast of
Newfoundland and Labrador over the next 10 years by the transportation of oil
and oil products as cargo or fuel by commercial vessels.
"We are confident the current Marine Oil Spill Preparedness and Response Regime
provides an appropriate response to ship source oil spills," said Mr. Cannon.
"There has been, however, an increase in tanker traffic in certain areas,
particularly along the south coast of Newfoundland, due to the growth of
offshore oil products, processing and transhipment of oil in Placentia Bay.
Therefore, it's important we learn more."
Several issues will be examined as part of the study, including increased marine
traffic, the size and amount of tanker movements, the convergence and divergence
of shipping routes, spill probability assessments and the potential impacts of
spills on the environment, residents and business.
Representatives of the Canadian Coast Guard, Environment Canada, and the
provincial Department of Environment and Conservation will also be in attendance
at the meetings.
Members of the public who have any comments or questions regarding the study are
welcome to attend. Sessions include an open house and presentation. Meetings
will be held at the following locations:
Port aux Basques
St. Christopher's Hotel
146 High Street
June 28 7 p.m.
Burgeo
DFO Ground Search and Rescue Building
Centennial Street
June 29 7 p.m.
Marystown
Hotel Marystown
76 Ville Marie Drive
July 4 7 p.m.
Arnold's Cove
Community Recreation Centre
July 5 7 p.m.
Placentia
Royal Canadian Legion Hall
Beach Road
July 6 7 p.m.
St. John's
Holiday Inn
180 Portugal Cove Road
July 7 11:30 a.m.
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Media representatives are also invited to participate.
For more information on the study, please visit:
www.tc.gc.ca/marinesafety/Ships-and-operations-standards/nl-study/menu.htm.
For more information on the meetings, please contact:
Tracey Hennessey
Transport Canada, St. John's, NL
E-mail: hennest@tc.gc.ca
Phone: (709) 772-6197
Fax: (709) 772-5127
Transport Canada is online at www.tc.gc.ca. Subscribe to news releases and speeches at apps.tc.gc.ca/listserv/ and keep up-to-date on the latest from Transport Canada.
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