White Rose Development Application referred to commissioner for public review

The Canada-Newfoundland Offshore Petroleum Board has concluded its Review for Completeness of the Development Application from Husky Oil Operations Limited for the White Rose oilfield project.

The Review for Completeness process as required in Section 2.1 of the C-NOPB Development Application Guidelines began on January 16 following receipt of the application. Supplementary information has been provided by the proponent, and the board is satisfied that the White Rose Oilfield Development Application is complete for the purposes of both public review and the internal review by C-NOPB as required under the Atlantic Accord Acts.

Accordingly, the board today forwards the complete documents to Herbert Clarke, the public review commissioner for the White Rose Development Application. This marks the formal commencement of the commissioner�s activity in providing the public an opportunity to examine the development application and to comment on it through written submissions and oral presentations in public hearings. This activity is expected to be completed within six months. In accordance with the commissioner�s terms of reference, the commissioner will operate independently from the board in this process, and will establish the schedule, locations, and guidelines for public hearings.

Meanwhile, the C-NOPB will undertake its internal review of the application under the Accord Acts, and work will continue on the environmental assessment under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act. At the end of the entire process, the C-NOPB will issue a decision in the form of a decision report either approving or rejecting the proposal. If the board approves the proposal, the decision is then forwarded to provincial and federal energy ministers for final approval or rejection.

French version also available.

Media contact: Edsel Bonnell, Public Information Coordinator, (709) 778-1440.

2001 03 16                                            10:00 a.m.