Canada conducting environmental assessment for Jeanne D’Arc drilling project

The Impact Assessment Agency of Canada is conducting a federal environmental assessment for the Jeanne D’Arc Basin Exploration Drilling Project, proposed by Husky Energy and ExxonMobil.

Image source: Pixabay
Project and study areas and associated licenses

Husky and ExxonMobil proposed to conduct an exploration drilling project within offshore exploration licenses on the Grand Banks, located approximately 350 kilometers east of St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, in the Atlantic Ocean.

As proposed, the Jeanne D’Arc Basin Exploration Drilling Project would allow the proponent, over a nine-year period, to determine the presence, nature, and quantities of the potential hydrocarbon resource in exploration licenses 1151A, 1151B, 1152, and 1155.

The Agency said that it invited the public and Indigenous groups to comment on the draft Environmental Assessment Report, which included the Agency’s conclusions and recommendations regarding the potential environmental effects of the project and their significance, the proposed mitigation measures, and the follow-up program.

The Impact Assessment Agency also invited comments on the potential environmental assessment conditions for the project. It is worth noting that this is the final public comment period in the process, and final conditions would become legally-binding on the proponents if the project is allowed to proceed. Written comments will be accepted until January 3, 2020.

Following the public comment period, the Environmental Assessment Report and potential environmental assessment conditions will be finalized and provided to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, along with comments received.

The Minister will make a decision on whether the project is likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects.


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