ARCHIVED – Workshop Meeting Summary – 24 January 2011
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Arctic Offshore Drilling Review
Workshop Meeting Summary
Date | Location |
---|---|
Monday 24 January 2011 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. |
Youth Centre Tuktoyaktuk, NT |
Purpose: Arctic Offshore Drilling Review workshop meeting with the Tuktoyaktuk Hunters & Trappers Committee and the Community Corporation Members
Participants | |
---|---|
Charles Gruben John Stuart Jr. Sandy Adam Eddie Dillon Billy Storr Douglas Esagok Steve Baryluk |
|
Gaétan Caron | Chair and Chief Executive Officer, NEB |
David Hamilton | Member, NEB |
Brian Chambers | Northern Advisor, NEB |
Bharat Dixit | Technical Leader, Conservation of Resources, NEB |
Pamela Romanchuk | Environmental Specialist, NEB |
Susan Gudgeon | Northern Coordinator, Arctic Offshore Drilling Review, NEB |
Introductory Remarks (NEB):
- An overview of the Arctic Offshore Drilling Review was provided, including the mandate of the NEB, the events leading up to the Review and the various phases of the Review.
- The HTC and CC members were asked what can you tell us about your community, land and environment that offshore drilling may affect?
Dialogue with HTC and CC members:
In response to the question put forward, a number of areas of interest and concern were raised by HTC and CC members, including:
- Emergency Response and Preparedness:
- There is no proven method of treating oil in ice
- How will the oil be recovered?
- How long would a response team take?
- The equipment and technology is the same as was used in the Gulf
- Don't have a fraction of resources that they had in the Gulf – how will it work?
- General:
- How can it be made safe for the environment?
- There would be great impacts to the animals and communities
- If anything goes wrong it would take three years to correct it.
- What do companies do with their waste?
- Using fresh water with muds – were approved to dump it overboard – impacts whales and other animals
- Man-made islands still exist (Esso)
- Are all the drilling regulations the same throughout the world?
- Have the regulations been looked at for up here?
- How do we know things won't go wrong?
- All drilling has been in shallow water – deep water drilling has never been tried before
- There are so many unknowns
- Is the technology there?
- There are lots of questions to be answered?
- Don't know yet what industry will say
- There is no comfort for the communities right now
- Anything that will protect the environment is useful/helpful
- There is a resource out there and companies are going to chase it
- Not saying we are against development but do it safely and do things the right way
- Are security deposits required when an application is approved?
- Is there enough money to make sure things are covered?
- People are not aware or do not realize the big picture
- Unique Arctic Environment:
- Best drilling conditions in the Gulf and still there was an accident – what would happen here with the harsh weather, ice and cold conditions?
- Has there been drilling in ice conditions in the North Sea? Has this ever been done or tested before?
- Value of Resources:
- After man-made islands, had to go further to hunt polar bears – ice won't break up and bears look for broken ice
- Whaling season is two weeks behind (Shingle Point)
- We live here and it's our livelihood (food chain)
- Traditional knowledge is very important – know what is changing and what conditions are from being on the land for so many years
Concluding Remarks and Follow-up Matters:
- NEB is available to assist HTC/CC members with the process to prepare for Phase 2 of the Review and be comfortable to come to the table – NEB will follow-up in organizing how best to assist members with the process
- Date modified: