News Releases 2011

C-NLOPB Appoints Miller Ayre as Commissioner for Hebron Development Application Public Review

For Immediate Release
July 6, 2011

The Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board
(C-NLOPB) is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Miller Ayre as the Public Review Commissioner for the Hebron Development Application.

Mr. Ayre is well qualified to conduct an independent review of the Hebron development application. He holds an Honours BA in Economics from Harvard University, a Master of Business Administration degree from McGill University and an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Memorial University. He is former publisher of The Telegram and is a member of the Order of Canada. He is National Vice-Chair of the Canadian Forces Liaison Council and a member of the Advisory Council of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment.

Mr. Ayre was Chair of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, the Retail Council of Canada, the Advisory Board of Memorial’s School of Business, the Newfoundland Medicare Commission, and Vice-chair of The National Theatre School of Canada. He has served as a Director of a number of TSX listed public companies including Aliant and ResourceCan Limited. He is a former Member of the Economic Council of Canada, the Institute for Research in Public Policy and the Policy Advisory Committee of the C.D. Howe Institute. Mr. Ayre also served as a member of the St. John’s Municipal Council, Honorary Chair of the Newfoundland Business Hall of Fame and Provincial Chair of the Task Force on Canadian Unity.

The Commissioner will be responsible for the holding of public sessions and the application of procedures involved in the public review process, subject to the Terms of Reference from the C-NLOPB and the provisions of the Atlantic Accord Acts. Appropriate notices will be given of the time and place of each public session and will provide ample opportunity to participate.

On April 15, 2011 ExxonMobil, on behalf of the Hebron proponents, filed a development application with the C-NLOPB consisting of the development application summary, the development plan and a socio-economic impact statement and sustainable development report. This was followed by the submission of a benefits plan on May 10, 2011. These documents, together with certain supporting documents have been posted to the Board’s website (www.cnlopb.nl.ca). A completeness review of the development application is underway. Correspondence in connection with this review has also been posted to the Board’s website. Once that process is complete, the documents will undergo public review by the Commissioner. At that point, the Commissioner will have six months to complete his review and submit a report.

In addition to the public review, the staff of the C-NLOPB will undertake an analysis of the application and provide its recommendations to the Board for their consideration. The Board’s decision on the application is subject to approval by both the Federal and Provincial Ministers of Natural Resources.

Prior to receipt of the Development Application, the Proponent submitted a project description for the Hebron Project to the C-NLOPB. The C-NLOPB, together with Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Environment Canada, Transport Canada, and Industry Canada, initiated a “comprehensive study” level of environmental assessment under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (CEA Act). The Proponent submitted a draft Comprehensive Study Report (CSR) on June 16, 2010. Review comments on the CSR are still being addressed by the Proponent. Upon finalization of the CSR, it will be transmitted to the Minister of the Environment for a 30 day public comment period. At the end of that process, the Minister of the Environment will issue an environmental assessment decision statement. The CSR is intended to fulfil the requirement for an Environmental Impact Statement within the Accord review.

Commissioner’s Terms of Reference

Media Contact:
Sean Kelly M.A., APR, FCPRS
Manager of Public Relations
(709) 778-1418
(709) 689-0713 (cell)
skelly@cnlopb.nl.ca


News Releases 2011

DateUpdate
2011, Dec 22Corridor Environmental Assessment for Exploration Licence 1105 Filed with Independent Reviewer
2011, Dec 21C-NLOPB Invites Comments on Draft Scoping Document for Western Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Area Strategic Environmental Assessment Update
2011, Nov 16C-NLOPB Releases Results for 2011 Calls for Bids NL11-01, NL11-02 and NL11-03
2011, Nov 2Corridor Environmental Assessment for Exploration Licence 1105 Filed with the C-NLOPB
2011, Nov 1C-NLOPB Conducts Offshore Safety Forum
2011, Oct 18Offshore Incident Reporting by Operators Consistent with other Industries
2011, Oct 14C-NLOPB Comments on S-92 Helicopter Incident in Gulf of Mexico
2011, Oct 52011 Call for Nominations
2011, Sep 21C-NLOPB Comments on Bristow Norway S-92A Grounding
2011, Aug 25C-NLOPB Announces Independent Review of Proposed Drilling on Exploration Licence 1105 (Old Harry)
2011, Aug 19C-NLOPB Releases 2010-11 Annual Report
2011, Aug 18C-NLOPB Responds to Offshore Helicopter Safety Inquiry Phase II Report
2011, Aug 16C-NLOPB to Conduct Extensive Public Consultations on EL 1105 (Old Harry) Proposal
2011, Aug 15C-NLOPB Releases Offshore Helicopter Safety Inquiry Report, Phase II
2011, Jul 6C-NLOPB Appoints Miller Ayre as Commissioner for Hebron Development Application Public Review
2011, Jul 4C-NLOPB Sets the Record Straight on AG Audit Request
2011, Jun 13C-NLOPB Recommends a Mediator or Panel Review of Proposed Old Harry Exploration Well in the Gulf of St. Lawrence
2011, Jun 6Drilling and Production Guidelines Updated
2011, Jun 3New Definitions for Reserves and Resources
2011, Jun 3C-NLOPB Releases Further Documentation Relating to the Hebron Development Plan Application
2011, May 16Hebron Benefits Plan Filed with the C-NLOPB
2011, May 12C-NLOPB Announces 2011 Calls for Bids
2011, Apr 21Hebron Development Application Filed With the C-NLOPB
2011, Apr 5C-NLOPB Responds to Criticism about Spill Reporting
2011, Mar 15C-NLOPB says it was not Notified of Board Appointment
2011, Feb 25Canadian Environmental Assessment Act Draft Scoping Document Exploration Drilling Project – EL 1105
2011, Feb 9C-NLOPB Says it will Review the TSB Report and Decide Next Steps