AI
Sunday, December 18, 2011 9:34:53 PM
NEB green lights offshore drilling in the Arctic… surprise, surprise
Thursday, December 15th, 2011
Today the NEB released its review of the safety and environmental requirements for
offshore drilling in Canada’s Arctic. You can read the report here.
The report is part of the NEB’s Arctic Offshore Drilling Review that was prompted after the public outcry to the BP offshore disaster in the Gulf.
The 53 page report compiles findings from the review which featured roundtables held in the North West Territories and Nunvaut with local community members and corporate representatives (such as Chevron which have a stake in drilling in the Beaufort Sea). After discussing information that was gathered including numerous concerns that were raised by communities, the report outlines regulations for how drilling can be done safely while protecting the environment.
This is a major step towards offshore drilling in Beaufort Sea. With these guidelines in place, the corporations with exploratory licences, including Chevron, BP and Shell, may begin to bring forward applications for drilling.
The report’s key findings include:
The root cause of most offshore accidents is the lack of a broadly shared safety culture. In other words, people don’t do what they are supposed to do.
The NEB has the necessary tools to protect the safety of workers, the public and the unique Arctic environment.
Northern residents want their voices to be heard in future decisions about offshore drilling, and they want to be involved in preparing for future drilling projects, in particular in training for emergencies.
The NEB has re-affirmed its Same Season Relief Well Policy. Any company wishing to depart from it in a future application for a well would have to demonstrate to us how they would meet or exceed the intended outcome of the policy, which is to kill an out-of-control well in the same season in order to minimise harmful impacts on the environment.
During the Arctic Review, industry representatives acknowledged Northern residents’ concerns and committed to engaging communities in more meaningful ways, as early as possible in their planning processes. They also spoke of developing and offering appropriate training opportunities to Northerners to help prepare them for employment and business opportunities.
Here are some early comments on the review:
Is it responsible to pursue oil and gas in the Beaufort Sea at a time of climate crisis?
The Council of Canadians registered as a participant for this public review, but did so hesitantly. We firmly believe that we need a moratorium on offshore oil and gas developments in the Arctic because:
As seen with BP Oil in the Gulf of Mexico, there is no sure fire way to guarantee against a massive oil spill.
A spill will devastate the fragile Arctic ecosystem.
Further Arctic oil and gas development and a spill stands to have devastating impacts on local Indigenous Peoples including on food security and cultural needs.
Melting ice in the Arctic shouldn’t be seen as an opportunity for Big Oil to increase their profits with new projects – it is a serious warming signal of the climate crisis.
A moratorium is a logical first step in a just transition to sustainable jobs, energy and an improved environment for everyone.
Unfortunately, the scope of the NEB review prevented a thorough discussion of these reasons, focusing more on how to make offshore drilling safe (as detailed in their report), then considering why it simply will never be safe. In our submission to the NEB we recommended that the scope of the review be expanded to include the compelling reasons for a permanent moratorium on the exploration and development of offshore Arctic resources.
We argued that the gravity of the climate crisis demands herculean efforts to reduce emissions and transition to an equitable green energy economy. Agreeing to a moratorium on all new exploration and development of offshore oil and gas resources in the Arctic is a logical first step in the transition off of fossil fuel reliance to sustainable jobs, energy and environment. This is the context in which rules are being reviewed.
Not unsurprisingly, the scope remained limited. The reality is that the NEB is a highly problematic federal agency that the Harper government is relying on increasingly to review and green light energy projects. The purpose of the NEB is to regulate pipelines, energy development and trade in the Canadian public interest. Yet rather than having a balanced board with members representing civil society, First Nations, experts and industry, many of the board members come straight from the energy sector.
There are no environmentalists or northern residents represented on the National Energy Board. Several current NEB members worked in the industry before their appointments, or with Alberta provincial regulators that have green-lighted resource projects. As reported in one of Brent Patterson’s blogs, “Since the Conservatives took power in February 2006, Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s cabinet has made 25 appointments to the boards of the National Energy Board, which regulates offshore petroleum exploration on Canada’s Arctic and West coasts, and the two federal-provincial agencies that regulate drilling off the East Coast: the Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board and the Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board. …Most of the individuals appointed by the Harper government to the agencies that oversee offshore-petroleum drilling in Canada are former industry insiders or government officials with no stated experience in environmental issues.”
http://canadians.org/blog/?p=12857
Canada releases rules for offshore oil, gas drilling in the Arctic Ocean
16-Dec-11
Source: National Energy Board
The National Energy Board (NEB or the Board) has released filing requirements for future applications to drill in the Canadian Arctic Offshore.
The Filing Requirements, a companion document to The Past is Always Present, Review of Offshore Drilling in the Canadian Arctic, Preparing for the Future, follows several months of extensive consultation carried out across the North during the NEB’s Arctic Review. During the Arctic Review, many Northern residents stated that if drilling is to be authorized in the unique Arctic environment, it must be done right.
The report’s key findings include:
• The root cause of most offshore accidents is the lack of a broadly shared safety culture. In other words, people don’t do what they are supposed to do.
• The NEB has the necessary tools to protect the safety of workers, the public and the unique Arctic environment.
• Northern residents want their voices to be heard in future decisions about offshore drilling, and they want to be involved in preparing for future drilling projects, in particular in training for emergencies.
• The NEB has re-affirmed its Same Season Relief Well Policy. Any company wishing to depart from it in a future application for a well would have to demonstrate to us how they would meet or exceed the intended outcome of the policy, which is to kill an out-of-control well in the same season in order to minimise harmful impacts on the environment.
• During the Arctic Review, industry representatives acknowledged Northern residents’ concerns and committed to engaging communities in more meaningful ways, as early as possible in their planning processes. They also spoke of developing and offering appropriate training opportunities to Northerners to help prepare them for employment and business opportunities.
“Filing requirements set out the technical information we will need to see in future applications for offshore drilling in the Canadian Arctic,” said NEB Chair and CEO Gaétan Caron.
“These new requirements provide clarity to future applicants and to those who will provide input into the Board’s decision to approve or deny an application for a well in the Arctic.”
The NEB, the federal body responsible for regulating offshore drilling in the Canadian Arctic, announced on May 11, 2010 that it would review Arctic safety and environmental offshore drilling requirements following the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Through the Arctic Review, the Board examined the best available information on the hazards, risks and safety measures associated with offshore drilling in the Canadian Arctic.
To gather information, the Board held more than 40 meetings in 11 communities across all three Northern territories. The Board also released two sets of questions for participants asking for information about the 11 topics in the scope of the Arctic Review. The review wrapped up with a week-long roundtable meeting in Inuvik, Northwest Territories so participants could engage in face-to-face dialogue, ask questions and share their views. Nearly 200 people attended the Arctic Review Roundtable Meeting in September 2011.
The Board also considered the recommendations of the U.S. Government’s National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling and other reports like it to incorporate lessons learned.
Currently, there is no offshore drilling in Canada’s Arctic and there are no applications for drilling before the Board. While a number of companies hold Explorations Licenses in the Beaufort Sea, they would need to respond to the newly released filing requirements in their applications.
The NEB is an independent federal regulator of several parts of Canada's energy industry. Its purpose is to regulate pipelines, energy development and trade in the Canadian public interest.
http://www.pennenergy.com/index/petroleum/display/7737562999/articles/pennenergy/petroleum/offshore/2011/12/canada-releases_rules.html
Thursday, December 15th, 2011
Today the NEB released its review of the safety and environmental requirements for
offshore drilling in Canada’s Arctic. You can read the report here.
The report is part of the NEB’s Arctic Offshore Drilling Review that was prompted after the public outcry to the BP offshore disaster in the Gulf.
The 53 page report compiles findings from the review which featured roundtables held in the North West Territories and Nunvaut with local community members and corporate representatives (such as Chevron which have a stake in drilling in the Beaufort Sea). After discussing information that was gathered including numerous concerns that were raised by communities, the report outlines regulations for how drilling can be done safely while protecting the environment.
This is a major step towards offshore drilling in Beaufort Sea. With these guidelines in place, the corporations with exploratory licences, including Chevron, BP and Shell, may begin to bring forward applications for drilling.
The report’s key findings include:
The root cause of most offshore accidents is the lack of a broadly shared safety culture. In other words, people don’t do what they are supposed to do.
The NEB has the necessary tools to protect the safety of workers, the public and the unique Arctic environment.
Northern residents want their voices to be heard in future decisions about offshore drilling, and they want to be involved in preparing for future drilling projects, in particular in training for emergencies.
The NEB has re-affirmed its Same Season Relief Well Policy. Any company wishing to depart from it in a future application for a well would have to demonstrate to us how they would meet or exceed the intended outcome of the policy, which is to kill an out-of-control well in the same season in order to minimise harmful impacts on the environment.
During the Arctic Review, industry representatives acknowledged Northern residents’ concerns and committed to engaging communities in more meaningful ways, as early as possible in their planning processes. They also spoke of developing and offering appropriate training opportunities to Northerners to help prepare them for employment and business opportunities.
Here are some early comments on the review:
Is it responsible to pursue oil and gas in the Beaufort Sea at a time of climate crisis?
The Council of Canadians registered as a participant for this public review, but did so hesitantly. We firmly believe that we need a moratorium on offshore oil and gas developments in the Arctic because:
As seen with BP Oil in the Gulf of Mexico, there is no sure fire way to guarantee against a massive oil spill.
A spill will devastate the fragile Arctic ecosystem.
Further Arctic oil and gas development and a spill stands to have devastating impacts on local Indigenous Peoples including on food security and cultural needs.
Melting ice in the Arctic shouldn’t be seen as an opportunity for Big Oil to increase their profits with new projects – it is a serious warming signal of the climate crisis.
A moratorium is a logical first step in a just transition to sustainable jobs, energy and an improved environment for everyone.
Unfortunately, the scope of the NEB review prevented a thorough discussion of these reasons, focusing more on how to make offshore drilling safe (as detailed in their report), then considering why it simply will never be safe. In our submission to the NEB we recommended that the scope of the review be expanded to include the compelling reasons for a permanent moratorium on the exploration and development of offshore Arctic resources.
We argued that the gravity of the climate crisis demands herculean efforts to reduce emissions and transition to an equitable green energy economy. Agreeing to a moratorium on all new exploration and development of offshore oil and gas resources in the Arctic is a logical first step in the transition off of fossil fuel reliance to sustainable jobs, energy and environment. This is the context in which rules are being reviewed.
Not unsurprisingly, the scope remained limited. The reality is that the NEB is a highly problematic federal agency that the Harper government is relying on increasingly to review and green light energy projects. The purpose of the NEB is to regulate pipelines, energy development and trade in the Canadian public interest. Yet rather than having a balanced board with members representing civil society, First Nations, experts and industry, many of the board members come straight from the energy sector.
There are no environmentalists or northern residents represented on the National Energy Board. Several current NEB members worked in the industry before their appointments, or with Alberta provincial regulators that have green-lighted resource projects. As reported in one of Brent Patterson’s blogs, “Since the Conservatives took power in February 2006, Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s cabinet has made 25 appointments to the boards of the National Energy Board, which regulates offshore petroleum exploration on Canada’s Arctic and West coasts, and the two federal-provincial agencies that regulate drilling off the East Coast: the Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board and the Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board. …Most of the individuals appointed by the Harper government to the agencies that oversee offshore-petroleum drilling in Canada are former industry insiders or government officials with no stated experience in environmental issues.”
http://canadians.org/blog/?p=12857
Canada releases rules for offshore oil, gas drilling in the Arctic Ocean
16-Dec-11
Source: National Energy Board
The National Energy Board (NEB or the Board) has released filing requirements for future applications to drill in the Canadian Arctic Offshore.
The Filing Requirements, a companion document to The Past is Always Present, Review of Offshore Drilling in the Canadian Arctic, Preparing for the Future, follows several months of extensive consultation carried out across the North during the NEB’s Arctic Review. During the Arctic Review, many Northern residents stated that if drilling is to be authorized in the unique Arctic environment, it must be done right.
The report’s key findings include:
• The root cause of most offshore accidents is the lack of a broadly shared safety culture. In other words, people don’t do what they are supposed to do.
• The NEB has the necessary tools to protect the safety of workers, the public and the unique Arctic environment.
• Northern residents want their voices to be heard in future decisions about offshore drilling, and they want to be involved in preparing for future drilling projects, in particular in training for emergencies.
• The NEB has re-affirmed its Same Season Relief Well Policy. Any company wishing to depart from it in a future application for a well would have to demonstrate to us how they would meet or exceed the intended outcome of the policy, which is to kill an out-of-control well in the same season in order to minimise harmful impacts on the environment.
• During the Arctic Review, industry representatives acknowledged Northern residents’ concerns and committed to engaging communities in more meaningful ways, as early as possible in their planning processes. They also spoke of developing and offering appropriate training opportunities to Northerners to help prepare them for employment and business opportunities.
“Filing requirements set out the technical information we will need to see in future applications for offshore drilling in the Canadian Arctic,” said NEB Chair and CEO Gaétan Caron.
“These new requirements provide clarity to future applicants and to those who will provide input into the Board’s decision to approve or deny an application for a well in the Arctic.”
The NEB, the federal body responsible for regulating offshore drilling in the Canadian Arctic, announced on May 11, 2010 that it would review Arctic safety and environmental offshore drilling requirements following the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Through the Arctic Review, the Board examined the best available information on the hazards, risks and safety measures associated with offshore drilling in the Canadian Arctic.
To gather information, the Board held more than 40 meetings in 11 communities across all three Northern territories. The Board also released two sets of questions for participants asking for information about the 11 topics in the scope of the Arctic Review. The review wrapped up with a week-long roundtable meeting in Inuvik, Northwest Territories so participants could engage in face-to-face dialogue, ask questions and share their views. Nearly 200 people attended the Arctic Review Roundtable Meeting in September 2011.
The Board also considered the recommendations of the U.S. Government’s National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling and other reports like it to incorporate lessons learned.
Currently, there is no offshore drilling in Canada’s Arctic and there are no applications for drilling before the Board. While a number of companies hold Explorations Licenses in the Beaufort Sea, they would need to respond to the newly released filing requirements in their applications.
The NEB is an independent federal regulator of several parts of Canada's energy industry. Its purpose is to regulate pipelines, energy development and trade in the Canadian public interest.
http://www.pennenergy.com/index/petroleum/display/7737562999/articles/pennenergy/petroleum/offshore/2011/12/canada-releases_rules.html
