The Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board (C-NLOPB) has announced the appointment of Mr. Bernard Richard of New Brunswick to conduct an independent review of Corridor Resources Inc.’s Proposed Drilling Program on its exploration licence (EL 1105) in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The independent review will focus on the potential environmental effects of the proposed drilling of a single exploration well on EL 1105. Public consultations will be held in the five jurisdictions bounded by the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Mr. Richard will present a report to the Board at the conclusion of the independent review, which will also be made public by the Board.

Mr. Richard is a lawyer and a former social worker who served as a Cabinet Minister in the New Brunswick legislature. He is a former New Brunswick Ombudsman and that province’s first Child and Youth Advocate. The Terms of Reference for the independent review and Mr. Richard’s biography in English and French are attached.

Max Ruelokke, C-NLOPB Chair and CEO, stated that the Board wishes to ensure Canadians, and particularly those in the Atlantic Provinces and Quebec, have an opportunity to present their views to an independent reviewer as part of the environmental assessment process.

“We believe that Mr. Richard’s background, independence, skills and ability to facilitate public input will be great assets for this work,” said Mr. Ruelokke.

On February 21, 2011, Corridor Resources Inc. filed a Project Description pursuant to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (CEAA) respecting its plans to drill an exploration well on EL 1105. The C-NLOPB is the Responsible Authority respecting the project since its authorization is required before the project may be carried out. The Scoping Document for the Environmental Assessment is on the C-NLOPB website.

Details of the public review will be announced in the coming days. In the interim, any correspondence can be sent to EL1105publicreview@cnlopb.nl.ca. All comments will be forwarded to the Independent Reviewer’s office.

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