Georges Bank Update...
A periodical update on the discourse surrounding the Georges Bank Oil & Gas Moratorium    A Project of Nova Scotia Today    
Jan 19 2009

  Georges Bank 2012 resource web site, CLICK HERE...        News, links, resources...                            

On January 5, 2010, the Nova Scotia and Canadian governments will initiate a review of the long-standing oil and gas exploration and production moratorium on Georges Bank in the Gulf of Maine. The Gulf and the Bank occupy American and Canadian waters and comprise a valuable and sensitive ecosystem which is home to thousands of marine plant and animal species and serve as the spawning and harvest grounds for several large commerial fisheries, with annual landings of $300 million or more. 

In 1999, the Nova Scotia and Canadian governments established a comprehensive and generally transparent review of the threats to Georges Bank habitat from oil and gas and declared a continuation of the moratorium to 2012, saying it was their job to "protect an environmental and economic asset.". The U.S. Congress has, through yearly bi-partisan agreement, upheld a similar ban for 26 years.

With no visible support from fisheries or marine science or from the fishing industry, and prior to any obvious assessment process, the Nova Scotia Minster of Energy and his department recently have begun publicly clamouring for discontinuing the moratorium.

What we know about the issue to date: 

• Since early 2008, Energy Minister Richard Hurlburt has been making public pronouncements of a pro-drilling stance (see here for news reports) (see here for several other news reports)
• Mr. Hurlburt appointed a reportedly pro-drilling staffer - former key official in Petroleum Directorate - to head up the moratorium portfolio
• The minister, several staffers, pro-drilling supporters and others took a recent expense-paid trip to Norway, purportedly to conduct assessment interviews and meetings (see here for news report)
• In Norway, despite its global reputation for expertise in this area, there were no meetings with scientists, environmentalists or fishing industry members, but several meetings with oil and gas industry executives. The Norway attendees were then formed into a ministry-chosen "steering committee" for a task force on the benefits and risks to drilling in the area including Georges Bank, with the most adamant pro-drilling member appointed chairman
• The minister committed a $150,000 grant to a pro-industry development group headed by a friend and business partner to create the "Oceans First Task Force", chaired by the pro-drilling "steering committee" chairman
• Prior to performing any of the multiple assessment tasks mandated by the grant, the Task Force issued a communique stating that drilling would not harm the ecosystem
• Although they have held no meetings to date and have not even formally constituted themselves, the Task Force is obligated to submit a progress report to government by January 31, 2009 and a full report on the comprehensive assessment by March 31, 2009. Local news reports have referred to the Task Force as a "secret task force" and as being mired in "poisoned politics."  (see here for news reports)

  What we know from 1999....

  •  As part of the Provincial/Federal Canadian agreement surrounding the moratorium, the Nova Scotia government formally committed to the following as part of the "Provincial Position"

    • more work would be carried out to develop and gather information on the Georges Bank ecosystem, particularly regarding fishing and petroleum activities and technology
    • the petroleum and fishing industries would work together to address the above items 
    • there would be a public repository for all of the information gathered from the activity above
    • the public would be informed of both the information and its availability
    • Canada would work with US agencies to develop a process to review both moratoria on Georges Bank

    There is no record of any of this "commitment" being carried out. In ten years, there is no evidence of any repository of information or any effort to inform the public. A senior official with Natural Resources Canada told industry officials recently that the Harper government has no intention of working with the U.S. government on Georges Bank issues.

    Links to some of the recent news stories surrounding this issue:

  • What the Nova Scotia government has planned for Cape cod... (Cape Cod Today) 
  • Report says Nova Scotia fisheries vulnerable GPI Atlantic (report here)
  • Georges Bank Committee says "no" to premature drilling conclusion  (Boston Indy Media)
  • Secret Georges bank review (Halifax Herald)
  • Nova Scotia govt spends $150,000 for pro-drilling task force
  • Dept of Fisheries & Oceans begins Georges Bank review

    Georges Bank 2012 resource web site, including news and government reports, fisheries, government and NGO groups CLICK HERE...        
      

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