Islands-la-Madeleine , February 23, 2011 - Following the filing of formal exploratory drilling project on the Old Harry site by the company in Nova Scotia Corridor Resources, the St. Lawrence Coalition calls on the Government of Newfoundland and the Government of Canada immediate suspension of the project until a thorough review of management framework hydrocarbons in the Gulf of St. Lawrence has not been realized.
Concerns within the Coalition
This drill could be conducted in 2012, by 2014, approximately 6 km maritime border in Quebec. This project, filed February 22, 2011 from the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board (the Board), of great concern for St. Lawrence Coalition considers that the conditions are not met to ensure Security exploration in the Gulf.
"It is inconceivable that the Board Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board conducts an evaluation of a drilling deposit Old Harry while the structure of the organization is severely criticized by the Commission Wells, "says Danielle Giroux, president of 'Warning FragÎles. Indeed, the Commission report tabled recently Wells highlights major flaws in the governance of the Board and management of petroleum activities in the marine environment. The report also confirms that the establishment of an independent structure is necessary to ensure the security of oil installations offshore and environmental protection. Recall that the Commission had been set up following the sinking of an offshore helicopter transportation of personnel and the death of 17 persons in 2009.
Moratorium right thing
"The Gulf is an inland sea six and a half times smaller than the Gulf of Mexico and many communities live in five provinces that would all be threatened by an exploratory drilling," says Karel Mayrand of the David Suzuki Foundation. That is why the Coalition urges that the environmental assessment process includes an examination before a commission, including the consultation of all the coastal Gulf of St. Lawrence. "It is important to establish a moratorium now and establish a framework for integrated management of the Gulf," added Mr. Mayrand.
Following the catastrophe of the Deepwater Horizon platform in the Gulf of Mexico, major reforms were recommended in the United States to eliminate conflicts of interest inherent in the delegation to a single agency with a double mandate industry promotion and protection of the environment. "The report of the Commission U.S. puts us a clear warning: if a thorough review of the entire industry is not done, an accident is likely to recur elsewhere in the world, "said Christian Simard of Quebec Nature. No province of the Gulf of St. Lawrence will be safe from such disasters as the specter of oil exploration will hover above the heads of communities and ecosystems. Coalition deems essential, therefore the implementation of reforms for the security of facilities and environmental protection.
Considering that the disaster in the Gulf of Mexico involved an exploratory drilling just like the one on which its Corridor Resources, even though his experience in this area remains to be demonstrated, the Coalition argues that such a risk should not be taken without confronting this type of development to other uses of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. "It is imperative that spatial planning of current and future uses of coastal and marine environments should be initiated, especially for defining a network of marine protected areas can ensure the functioning of the fragile ecosystems on which we depend," says Patrick Nadeau SNAP of Quebec.
The St. Lawrence Coalition includes 50 organizations and associations from various economic sectors and nearly 900 individuals. The coalition is calling for a moratorium on exploration and exploitation of hydrocarbons across the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
Sources:
Danielle Giroux
Spokesperson of the Coalition Saint Laurent (French interview)
President, Attention FragÎles
418-986-6644 / coalitionstlaurent@me.com
Orer Catherine, Director of Communications David
Foundation Suzuki
514-316-4646 x104 / catherine.orer @ davidsuzuki.org
Christian Simard, Director General
Nature Quebec
418-648-2104 x2071 / direction@naturequebec.org
Patrick Nadeau, CEO
Wilderness Society and Parks Canada, Quebec wing
514-278-7627 x226 / pnadeau@snapqc.org
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