Premier Williams pleased to receive requested assurances from federal
government on safety of offshore vessels during launch of Titan IV rocket

After more than a week of dialogue with federal officials, Premier Danny Williams is pleased that the federal government has given the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador written assurances that any risk to offshore activity has been mitigated, during the upcoming launch of a Titan IV rocket by the US government.

"Deputy Prime Minister Anne McLellan wrote me late yesterday in her capacity as Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada, and provided to me the precise assurance I requested � that the US Air Force would be able and prepared to destroy the rocket in the unlikely event that unforeseen circumstances arise that could result in the rocket booster falling outside of the identified safety zone," said Premier Williams.

The US Air Force is planning to launch a Titan IV rocket from Cape Canaveral over the Grand Banks within days. "As soon as I heard about this rocket launch last week, I immediately contacted Deputy Prime Minister McLellan, who arranged the Halifax meetings on Saturday past," added the premier.

That meeting brought together officials from the US, Canadian and Newfoundland and Labrador governments, along with industry officials and regulators. Premier Williams says that when he did not receive adequate assurances as a result of that meeting, he contacted Prime Minister Martin, who had previously been out of the country.

"I indicated to the Prime Minister that my preferred remedy would be an assurance from the US that the rocket and booster would be destroyed if unforeseen circumstances arose that could result in the rocket booster falling outside of the identified safety zone, endangering Hibernia or other vessels," said Premier Williams. "The Prime Minister agreed with this solution, acted upon it immediately and provided written assurances on behalf of the Government of Canada from Deputy Prime Minister McLellan. After extensive efforts, I am relieved and satisfied that we have been successful in getting the assurances required to ensure the safety of workers on those vessels."

Deputy Prime Minister McLellan�s letter further states that the Government of Canada has reviewed all necessary information, data and analysis from the United States and are satisfied that oil platforms can safely continue operating during the planned launch period.

The Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board (C-NOPB) has the independent authority to make the determination as to whether companies can continue normal operations during the period of the launch. Premier Williams says the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador was advised on Wednesday evening that the C-NOPB has determined that offshore operations can continue during the launch period.

"I want to assure the workers and families in the offshore area impacted that I have full confidence in the assurances I have received," added the premier. "As premier of this province, I took this issue extremely seriously and recognized that action needed to be taken and questions needed to be answered, before we would feel comfortable with the launch. Today, those answers are in hand and all stakeholders are fully satisfied that it is safe for normal oil producing operations to continue during the launch."

Media contact: Elizabeth Matthews, Office of the Premier, (709) 729-3960, 690-5500, elizabethmatthews@gov.nl.ca

2005 04 14                            10:25 a.m.