People wishing to comment on the environmental assessment for a proposed exploratory drilling program in the Orphan Basin will now have more time to prepare their submissions.

On October 27, 2005 the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board (the Board) commenced a six week public comment period
inviting the public to submit comments the draft environmental assessment report for a proposed exploratory drilling program in the Orphan Basin.
The Board has extended this public comment period by one month.

On November 17, 2005 the Minister of Environment announced amendments to regulations under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act whereby offshore
oil and gas exploratory drilling projects would be subject to a screening type environmental assessment rather than the current comprehensive
study type of assessment.

The environment assessment review of the exploratory drilling program in the Orphan Basin will now change from a
Comprehensive Level of assessment to a Screening level. Under a comprehensive study review process, the public would have two
opportunities to review the environmental assessment report. The first opportunity is the review of the draft report, which
the Board commenced in late October 2005. The second public comment period is administered by the CEA Agency after submission
of the final comprehensive study by the Board to the CEA Agency. However, in a screening level of assessment, the second public
review period is not required. In considering this, the Board has decided to extend the public comment period by one month to
give the public more time to review the environmental assessment report. Comments from the public will now be accepted up to noon on January 13, 2006.

Comments may be submitted electronically to Kim Coady at ead@cnlopb.nl.ca or by mail to the Board’s offices.
Submitted comments should follow the format outlined in the Comment Request Form, available on the Board’s website.

The draft environmental and Scoping Document are available on the Board’s website,www.cnlopb.nl.ca or by
contacting the Board’s office at C-NLOPB, 5th Floor – TD Place, 140 Water Street, St. John’s, NL, A1C 6H6, 709-778-1400.

Media Inquiries:
Edsel Bonnell
Public Relations
(709) 778-1418