ARCHIVED – Workshop Meeting Summary – 27 January 2011

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