sust-mar: need some heat on seismic

From: "Emily McMillan" <emilym@sierraclub.ca>
To: <emilym@sierraclub.ca>
Date: Fri, 28 Nov 2003 14:04:14 -0400
Importance: Normal
Precedence: bulk
Return-Path: <sust-mar-mml-owner@chebucto.ns.ca>

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____________________________________________________________________________
Hi all,
As some of you may have heard by now, the Canada - Nova Scotia Offshore
Petroleum Board (CNSOPB) has approved an application from Corridor Resources
Inc. to conduct seismic testing  offshore western Cape Breton - exactly what
we have been fighting for months now.  This has implications for the entire
Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence.

Today may be the last day to make a difference on this issue.  We have to
turn up the heat on the Premier and ask him to step in,  demand that he live
up to a commitment he made on CBC's Maritime Noon earlier this week in which
he offered to meet with scientists and that if there was a risk to the
fishery the testing would not be allowed.

For more information see our website
http://www.sierraclub.ca/atlantic/camp_oilgas.htm
and the two press releases below.

We have, since Hamm's remarks on CBC Maritme Noon, really turned up the
heat on the Premier. LET'S TURN IT HIGHER!!!!!!!.

PLEASE, ALL DAY TODAY, GET AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU CAN TO CALL HAMM'S
OFFICE  --PHONE CALLS ARE BETTER THAN EMAILS TODAY -- TO DEMAND THAT THE
AREA SOUTHERN GULF BE PROTECTED.

HAMM'S OFFICE 902-424-6600

CECIL CLARKE MIN OF ENERGY --  902-424-4575

MORASH, MIN OF ENVIRONMENT -- 902-424-5300


MAKE LOTS OF CALLS.  CIRCULATE TO YOUR EMAIL LISTS.

When you call they may try to refer you to the Department of Energy.  be
prepared and ask to speak to someone in the Premier's office.  Point out
that Hamm made a promise on CBC radio on Maritime Noon, not to permit
seismic if he met with scientists who were concerned....  and the scientists
ARE concerned!!

PLEASE...LET'S SHUT DOWN THE PHONES IN THE PREMIERS OFFICE.


Thanks,
Emily

Emily McMillan
Director of Operations
Sierra Club of Canada - Atlantic Canada Chapter
1657 Barrington St., Suite 502
Halifax, NS, B3J 2A1
emilym@sierraclub.ca <mailto:emilym@sierraclub.ca>
Phone: 902-444-3113
Fax: 902-444-3116
www.sierraclub.ca/atlantic <http://www.sierraclub.ca/atlantic>

One Earth...One Chance

............................................................

SOSS coalition denounces sell-out of sensitive marine areas by CNSOPB

A coalition of Fishermen, First Nations, Tourism operators and Environmental
groups denounced today the decision of the CSNOPB to override the scientific
advice from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans as well as numerous
scientists who served on the Board's Science Review Committee.

"Once again CNSOPB has distorted the scientific recommendations they
received by characterizing DFO's advice as expressing "some concern". In
reality, the written DFO advice to CNSOPB was that the conditions of last
spring had not been met and the program should not proceed," said Elizabeth
May, Executive Director, Sierra Club of Canada.

Of particular concern is the abundance of snow crab in the proposed testing
zones. "The Board has announced that they will use this program to answer
huge scientific uncertainties about the impact of seismic blasting on snow
crab populations. The snow crab fishermen of Cape Breton Island absolutely
reject being used as guinea pigs for the oil and gas industry," said Fred
Kennedy, Area 19, Snow Crab Fishermen's Association.

"There has been no consultation with first nations to satisfy our concerns,"
said Allister Marshall.

"The tourism industry remains unalterably opposed to taking this risk with
one of Nova Scotia's most valuable economic sectors," said  Anita Macleod .

The Save Our Seas and Shores coalition (SOSS) has demanded that Premier John
Hamm live up to a commitment he made on CBC's Maritime Noon earlier this
week in which he offered to meet with scientists and that if there was a
risk to the fishery the testing would not be allowed.

 "It is unacceptable for our politicians at the federal and provincial level
to hide behind this unelected pro-oil and gas industry Board," said
Elizabeth May.



Andrew Dumbrille
Communications Coordinator
Sierra Club of Canada
www.sierraclub.ca
Phone: 613-241-4611 Fax: 613-241-2292


-----Original Message-----
From: Sierra Club of Canada Communications [mailto:info@sierraclub.ca]
Sent: November 28, 2003 11:13 AM
Subject: Board Issues Geophysical Program Authorization

Board Issues Geophysical Program Authorization

Halifax, NS - The Canada - Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board (the
Board) has approved, with conditions, an application from Corridor
Resources Inc. to conduct a six-day 2D geophysical program offshore
western Cape Breton.

The Board reviewed the application and determined, subject to additional
conditions placed on the activity, the operator is in compliance with
the regulatory requirements. The requirements include a Scope of Work,
Safety Plan, environmental assessment, Canada - Nova Scotia Benefits
Plan, proof of financial responsibility and the Declaration of Operator.

Conditions placed on the activity based on the environmental review
include an Environmental Effects Monitoring program, which has been
addressed through Corridor Resources' participation and contribution to
a research project developed in consultation with the Department of
Fisheries and Oceans (DFO).  The research will be managed by the Centre
for Offshore Oil and Gas Environmental Research (COOGER) team of DFO.

Other conditions include having a fisheries observer on board the
seismic vessel as well as a marine mammal biologist; no seismic
acquisition within 10 kilometres of the low water mark; a 30-minute ramp
up period; and a provision that no seismic will be acquired if a whale
is sighted within one kilometre of the seismic vessel.

Since the onset of discussions related to proposed seismic activities
offshore Cape Breton Island three years ago, various environmental
concerns and issues have been brought forth and were considered in the
Board's decision. The Board, through a Public Review, a Science Review,
an Ad Hoc Working Group, and public comment, received substantial
amounts of information, both in support of, and in opposition to, the
proposed program.

For the Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence, the Science Review agreed that
restricting the timing of the program to after November would reduce
potential population level effects on marine mammals and sea turtles to
negligible levels. The scientists also agreed that these measures would
reduce but not eliminate the risks to other environmental components.
DFO indicated that conducting the program after the third week of
November will mitigate potential effects to cod.

Both the Science Review and DFO have indicated that western Cape Breton
is an area of high snow crab abundance and an important area for the
snow crab fishery.  In May of 2003, DFO established a Crab Conservation
Area that restricts crab fishing in a portion of the survey area. The
Science Review and the Ad Hoc Working Group Report both recommended that
the Board consider the results of the Environmental Studies Research
Fund (ESRF) study conducted in Newfoundland on the effects of seismic on
snow crab, before finalizing any authorization.

The Board reviewed the results of this study. In addition, the comments
from the peer reviews, DFO and other environmental scientists and
fishers have been considered. The Board acknowledges the limitations of
the study and agrees that additional research is needed to confirm many
of the findings. Although the significance of many of the findings is
open to interpretation, one observation that can be taken from the study
is that there was no immediate or delayed mortality of snow crab exposed
to seismic.

The study does indicate that there may be concern with respect to egg
development in female crabs. However, this result was based on a sound
source being located 2-metres from the fertilized eggs. In the case of
the program proposed by Corridor Resources Inc., the water depth is
greater than 40 metres, thus it is unlikely that similar results would
be experienced. The results of the ESRF study, although limited, are in
line with the preliminary judgment of the Science Review that there
would be no perceptible negative impact on snow crab populations.

Although DFO expressed some concern about proceeding with the program at
this time, it also indicated it recognizes the potential value in
implementing a research program using this small-scale seismic program.
It is anticipated that through the use of this program several research
questions with respect to the impacts of seismic on crab populations
will be answered and that this research will influence future
decision-making with respect to this area.

The history of the area has also been considered. The area immediately
west of Cape Breton Island has been subject to more than 4,000
kilometres of seismic between 1967 and 1982. Although the potential
effects of this activity have never been studied, there have been no
known negative impacts on snow crab.

Consideration was given to the duration of the proposed program and the
size of the sound source. Typically seismic programs operating on the
Scotian Shelf or Slope range from 30 to more than 100 days in duration.
The proposed program is comparatively very short, with an estimated
duration of six days. The program will involve a reduced energy source,
with the use of a 1000 to 1500 cubic inch air gun array, as opposed to
the more frequently used 2000-5500 cubic inch arrays.

After reviewing all environmental components relating to the proposed
program and the evidence presented, the Board believes that since the
program is of small duration and scale; that the mitigative measures
outlined will significantly reduce any potential impacts to the
environment and is unlikely to result in significant adverse
environmental impacts; and that research collected during the program
will be valuable to future decision-making. The Board has therefore
authorized the activity subject to adherence with the proposed
mitigation and monitoring programs.

The Board has also lifted the Prohibition Order on Exploration Licences
2364, 2365 and 2368 effective November 27th, 2003.

-30-



For further information, contact:

Barbara Pike
Public Information Coordinator
Canada - Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board
902-496-0744 (office) 902-221-5611 (Cell)



Andrew Dumbrille
Communications Coordinator
Sierra Club of Canada
www.sierraclub.ca
Phone: 613-241-4611 Fax: 613-241-2292




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