ARCHIVED – TGS NOPEC Geophysical Company ASA, Petroleum GeoServices and Multi Klient Invest (TGS/PGS/MKI) NorthEastern Canada 2D Seismic Exploration Survey National Energy Board Information Request No. 4

File OF-EP-GeoOp-M711-5554587 02 19 March 2013

Ms. Darlene Davis
Lead Canadian Consultancy
RPS Energy
1545 Birmingham Street 2nd Floor Halifax, NS  B3J 2J6
Facsimile: 902-425-0703 Email: DavisD@rpsgoup.com

Dear Ms. Davis:

TGS NOPEC Geophysical Company ASA, Petroleum GeoServices and Multi Klient Invest (TGS/PGS/MKI) NorthEastern Canada 2D Seismic Exploration Survey
National Energy Board Information Request No. 4

Pursuant to the National Energy Board's (Board) obligations under the Canada Oil and Gas Operations Act the Board finds that further information is required to complete the environmental review of the TGS/PGS/MKI NorthEastern Canada 2D Seismic Exploration Survey.

The Board requests that you provide your responses to this Information Request by 3 April 2013to Gary Woo, Team Leader of Conservation of Resources and to the individuals copied below. If there are any concerns regarding the requested response date please let us know as soon as possible.

Should you have any questions or require more clarification regarding the attached request for information, please contact Christy Wickenheiser by telephone at 403-299-3869 or by email at christy.wickenheiser@cer-rec.gc.ca.

Yours truly,

Sheri Young
Secretary of the Board

Attachment

c.c. Ms. Paula C. Smith, Environment Assessment Coordinator, Environment Canada,
facsimile 867-975-4645 Mr. Jerry Ward, CEO, Baffin Fisheries Coalition, facsimile 867-979-3068
Mr. Harry Earle, General Manager, Arctic Fisheries Alliance, facsimile 867-927-8896
Mr. John Price, Avatiriniq Coordinator, Government of Nunavut, facsimile 867-975-6089
Mr. Bernie MacIssac, Qikiqtani Inuit Association, facsimile 867-979-3238
Ms. Shari Gearheard, PhD, Clyde River, sharig@qiniq.com

TGS NOPEC Geophysical Company ASA, Petroleum GeoServices and Multi Klient Invest (TGS/PGS/MKI) NorthEastern Canada 2D Seismic Exploration Survey

National Energy Board
Information Request No. 4 to TGS/PGS/MKI
File OF-EP-GeoOp-M711-5554587 02

4.1 Reference:

1. Letter of Comment from the Government of Nunavut dated
   10 June 2011, sections 5.3 and 5.7, page 4
2. MKI Response to NEB Information Request No. 1 dated 23 February 2012

Preamble: Reference i) asked the company the following:

5.3 During conditions of low visibility and where safety zones are not visible, please clarify that seismic surveying will not take place. Please clarify the number of Marine Mammal Observers that will be hired for each vessel, who will be available for monitoring at a single time, and who the MMO's will be reporting to.

5.7 Using a consultation document written by the company in 2007 is not considered active engagement of the fishing industry in Nunavut. A lot has changed since then with increase in quota and more activity in the areas of 0A and 0B. In addition, the 5th paragraph is written in a way that is unclear and potentially misleading. Establishment of quotas should be stated directly for the NAFO areas 0A and 0B. It is not clear what is meant by "rebuilding programme"; why the FLO would monitor the "issue"; or whether the paragraph is referring only to the Turbot fishery or if some part of it also refers to the Shrimp fishery. Please update and clarify.

MKI's response in reference ii) does not address the comments of the Government of Nunavut in reference i).

Request: Please provide information that addresses the Government of Nunavut's comments in reference i).

4.2 Reference: Environmental Impact Assessment for Marine 2D Seismic Reflection Survey Baffin Bay and Davis Strait Offshore Eastern Canada by MultiKlient Invest AS, page 112

Preamble: The list of mitigation measures in the above reference includes the "alteration of vessel speed/course providing it will not compromise safety and requirements".

Request: Please describe the specific circumstances in which the vessel speed or course would be altered.

4.3 Reference: MKI Response to NEB Information Request No. 1 dated 23 February 2012

Preamble: On page 2 of the above reference, MKI indicated the following "The Survey Acquisition Plan is ongoing as we continue to consult within communities and can be provided prior to the start of the program".

Request: Please indicate when the Survey Acquisition Plan will be submitted to the NEB. Alternatively, confirm that MKI plans to acquire the lines indicated in their Environmental Impact Assessment (page 14, Figure 1).

Date modified:

2021-09-16