The Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board
(C-NLOPB or the Board) is pleased to announce that Memorial University’s Leslie Harris Centre of Regional Policy and Development (the Harris Centre) will conduct a public review of the White Rose Development Plan Amendment (DPA) application – White Rose Extension Project (WREP).

Husky Energy submitted the DPA application on behalf of its co-venturers, Suncor Energy and Nalcor Energy, to develop the West White Rose Pool and other potential petroleum resources using a Wellhead Platform. The Wellhead Platform will be a concrete gravity structure with topsides consisting of drilling facilities, wellheads and support services. Construction activities will take place at Argentia, Placentia Bay and installation will take place at the White Rose Field. Husky Energy is estimating that, pending regulatory, corporate and partner approvals, petroleum production will begin in late 2017.

The C-NLOPB has engaged the Harris Centre to hold public information sessions and collect input subject to the Public Consultation Terms of Reference from the C-NLOPB and the provisions of the Atlantic Accord Acts. The Harris Centre is an independent body with a mandate to encourage informed public policy and regional development in Newfoundland and Labrador.

The DPA application consists of a summary, development plan, benefits plan, socio-economic impact statement and concept safety analysis, all of which will be made available to the public. In addition to the public review, C-NLOPB staff will analyze the application and provide recommendations to the Board whose decision will be informed by the staff analysis and the public review, and then subject to approval by the Federal and Provincial Ministers of Natural Resources.

Prior to receipt of the DPA application, the WREP underwent a harmonized environmental assessment (EA) process that satisfied the requirements of both the Newfoundland and Labrador Environmental Protection Act and the federal Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (CEAA). The Newfoundland and Labrador Minister of Environment and Conservation determined in August 2013 that the EA was satisfactory and released the project from further EA, subject to conditions. The
C-NLOPB, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Environment Canada and Transport Canada, as Responsible Authorities under the CEAA, determined in September 2013 that, following the application of mitigation measures, the WREP is not likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects. These decisions were based on information provided by Husky Energy in the “White Rose Extension Project Environmental Assessment” and “Response to Review Comments on the White Rose Extension Project Environmental Assessment”. These two documents fulfill the requirement for an Environmental Impact Statement within the Atlantic Accord Acts.

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