Federal AG to speak to inner workings of offshore regulator
2/4/2013Report to speak to CNLOPB’s regulatory work and readiness for environmental disaster
The environmental protection work of the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board (CNLOPB) will be placed under the microscope Tuesday with the release of a new report by the Office of the Auditor General of Canada.
The report is under wraps until it formally tabled in the House of Commons, but the first chapter of the “2012 Fall Report of the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development” will speak to offshore oil and gas exploration and development activities.
Specifically, an audit in 2012 of the CNLOPB and the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board (CNSOPB), “examined whether the boards, along with federal organizations responsible for providing advice and support, have managed the environmental risks and impacts of offshore oil and gas activities in accordance with applicable legislation, regulations, directives, good practices, and agreements with other players,” according to a notice issued by the federal auditor general’s office.
Other chapters in the report are titled: “Financial Assurances for Environmental Risks,” “Marine Protected Areas,” “A Study of Federal Support to the Fossil Fuel Sector” and “Environmental Petitions.”
The latter chapters will focus nationally as opposed to being specific to Atlantic Canada.
The Telegram has spoken with sources about the report and will have more once the report is released.
(Telegram)
