ARCHIVED – Workshop Meeting Summary – 27 January 2011

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Arctic Offshore Drilling Review

Workshop Meeting Summary

Date and Location
Date Location
Thursday
27 January 2011
5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Ajgaliaq Centre
Sachs Harbour, NT

Purpose: Arctic Offshore Drilling Review workshop meeting with the Sachs Harbour Hunters & Trappers Committee and the Community Corporation Members

Participants
Participants
Lawrence Amos
Richard Carpenter
Darren Nasogaluak
Ryan Lucas
Priscilla Haogak
 Amos
Brenda Lucas
John Lucas Jr.
Wayne Gully
Joseph Carpenter
Vernon Amos
Donna Keogak Betty Haogak
 
Doug Esogak Inuvialuit Game Council
Steve Baryluk Joint Secretariat
Jimmy Kalinek Inuvialuit Game Council
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 what they would want to know from a company when they apply and 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 questions put forward, a number of areas of interest and concern were raised by HTC and CC members, including:

  1. Emergency Response and Preparedness:

    • Before the spill there were sessions with Imperial and the last one was a debate on the relief well
    • If the NEB approves a project, a relief well will take just as long – how could this happen?
    • Is there a list of dispersants that are suitable for the Arctic as the Gulf is so different than the Arctic?
    • Some dispersants may be less harmful than leaving the oil there

  2. General:

    • Is there a process to be an intervenor?
    • How large of an area did the Gulf spill cover?
    • What kind of comfort will the NEB give to the Inuvialuit that companies will comply
    • NEB holds the final say but can parliament tell the NEB what to do
    • If an American company comes, does the NEB still have the final say
    • Does the NEB have jurisdiction over international waters – hear talk about the fact that when the northwest passage opens it will be international waters
    • What was the depth of the Greenland wells?
    • If a decision was challenged, would the drilling continue?
    • Does the NEB do the research about the difference between the surface and the sea floor if there is a spill?
    • Drilling has been going on in Norway and Russia in ice – this would give some info
    • A test was done in the '70's or '80's – Canmar days – and the reports must be somewhere
    • How will the NEB deal with the world's demand for oil – how would that pressure be dealt with?
    • Where does the 40 million dollars come from?
    • If communities want the drilling and the NEB says what is being proposed can't happen at this time, the Inuvialuit people are out of money – who will compensate the Inuvialuit people?
    • With the Gulf is there a time for the Report?
    • Will the NEB wait until the Report on the BOP is out before proceeding?

  3. Unique Arctic Environment:

    • The reason it would be 3 years to drill is because of ice but if the ice comes later companies will drill longer
    • Ecosystem is so delicate, a slight change in ice conditions can affect the food supply

  4. Value of Resources:

    • If there is a spill the weather is important as it rules the people of the north
    • Does the NEB take into consideration that the ice and animals could be lost
    • Being so isolated, people really rely on the animals for food

Concluding Remarks and Follow-up Matters:

  • NEB encourages continued participation in the Review
  • If there is a list of approved dispersants, it will be sent
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