OTTAWA – July 22, 2009 – Canada’s Environment Minister Jim Prentice announced today that a comprehensive study is the most appropriate type of environmental assessment for the proposed Hebron Development Project located offshore of St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador.
The Minister based his decision on the report and recommendation submitted by the responsible authorities, the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Transport Canada, Environment Canada and Industry Canada. The report contains information on the scope of the project, the factors to be considered in the environmental assessment and the scope of those factors, as well as the potential for the project to cause adverse environmental effects and the ability of the comprehensive study to address issues relating to the project.
A copy of the report can be obtained by contacting:
Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board
140 Water St., Fifth Floor, TD Place
St. John's NL A1C 6H6
Tel.: 709-778-1418
skelly@cnlopb.nl.ca
The responsible authorities will now continue the comprehensive study of the proposed project. A comprehensive study report will be submitted to the Minister of the Environment. The public will be given an opportunity to comment on the findings and recommendations of the report before the Minister renders his final decision.
ExxonMobil Canada Properties, on behalf of its co-venturers, Chevron Canada, Petro-Canada, StatoilHydro and Nalcor, is proposing to develop the Hebron Project. The project would include activities associated with installation, drilling and production, maintenance, and decommissioning of a concrete gravity-based structure at the Hebron Field, northeast of the Grand Banks. The proposed project would also involve construction activities at two locations, the Hebron Field and the Bull Arm marine facilities in Bull Arm, Trinity Bay.
Further information on this project is available in the Canadian Environmental Assessment Registry under reference number 09-03-46144.
The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency administers the federal environmental assessment process, which identifies the environmental effects of proposed projects and measures to address those effects, in support of sustainable development.
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Media may contact:
Lucille Jamault
Senior Communications Advisor
Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
Tel.: 613-957-0434
