Question Period Note: Bay du Nord Development Project Environmental Assessment

Bay du Nord Development Project Environmental Assessment

• Canadians expect us to take meaningful action to protect the environment while supporting economic growth, not just for today, but for future generations.
• As such, our Government is committed to a federal assessment process that is robust, based on science and Indigenous knowledge, protects our rich natural environment, respects the rights of Indigenous Peoples, and supports our natural resources sector.
• The Impact Assessment Agency of Canada and the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board are working collaboratively on the environmental assessment and regulatory review of the Project.
• The legislated time limit for a decision on whether the Project is likely to cause significant adverse environmental effect is March 6, 2022

The Bay du Nord Development Project (the Project) by Equinor Canada Ltd. (the Proponent) would be located in the Flemish Pass area of the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) offshore area, approximately 500 kilometres east-northeast of St. John’s, NL, in the northwest Atlantic Ocean. If approved, the Project would be the fifth offshore oil and gas production project in the NL offshore area.
• On August 9, 2018, the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (the Agency) posted a Notice of Commencement of a federal environmental assessment (EA) of the Project.
•On September 26, 2018, the Agency sent the final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Guidelines to the Proponent.
• On February 12, 2019, the Proponent submitted its draft EIS.
• On February 20, 2019, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was developed in consultation with the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board to provide an integrated process for the environmental assessment and development application review of the Project. The MOU was signed and posted to the Canadian Impact Assessment Registry.
• June 10, 2019, the Agency issued an Information Requirement package to the Proponent. On November 15, 2019, the Proponent submitted its responses, and on July 10, 2020, it submitted its final EIS.
• On July 30, 202o, the Agency held a comment period on the EIS. Key concerns raised related to spills, underwater noise effects on fish and marine mammals, drill waste effects on fish and fish habitat, light attraction of migratory birds to project infrastructure and vessels, impacts to fisheries, and cumulative effects.
• On October 26, 2020, the Agency issued four Information Requirement packages to the proponent, based on comments from the public and Indigenous groups received during the EIS public comment period.
• On December 14, 2020, the Agency notified the Proponent that the responses to the Information Requirement packages were sufficient to allow the Agency to continue with preparation of the draft EA report.
• On February 18, 2021, the Proponent requested a pause on the federal timeline to provide further information in relation to underwater project sound emission effects on marine mammals.
• On July 21, 2021, the Proponent provided information related to underwater project sound emission effects on marine mammals.
• On July 20, 2021, the federal timeline was resumed.
• The Agency held a public comment period on the Draft Environmental Assessment Report between August 9, 2021, and September 8, 2021. The Agency received written comments from Indigenous groups, stakeholders, and the Proponent on the Draft Environmental Assessment Report.
• On December 6, 2021, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change extended the legislated 365 day time limit for his decisions by 90 days.
• Under legislated timelines, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change has until March 6, 2022, to decide whether the project is likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects.

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