The Atlantic Canada Offshore Training and Qualifications Committee, working with the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board and the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board, has extended the validity of training certificates and offshore medical certificates until March 31, 2021, due to the impacts of COVID-19.
To view the complete update, click here.
News Release
For Immediate Release
January 29, 2021
The CNSOPB is preparing a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) for the Middle and Eastern Scotian Slope and Sable Island Bank areas of the Canada-Nova Scotia offshore area.
SEAs are broad-scale studies that examine the environmental setting and marine environment to identify potential environmental effects and any related mitigation measures that may need to be considered if there is future oil and gas activity in the study area.
BP Canada Energy Group ULC (BP Canada) has notified the CNSOPB that it will forfeit its $2 million drilling deposit paid in 2020 and has paid a further drilling deposit of $3 million to extend Period 1 for an additional year. This additional drilling deposit extends the licence to the full nine years permitted by legislation and changes the expiry date of the licence to January 14, 2022.
What does this mean?
The Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board (CNSOPB) is governed by an independent Board of Directors, which is comprised of provincial and federal appointees and a Board Chair. The Board Chair is a jointly approved position to which Keith was appointed on August 17, 2015. The Board sets the CNSOPB’s policies and programs through strategic, ethical and transparent lenses in the stewardship and regulation of offshore petroleum resources. The CNSOPB’s primary mandates are safety of offshore workers and protection of the environment.
News Release
For Immediate Release
November 4, 2020
CANADA-NOVA SCOTIA OFFSHORE PETROLEUM BOARD (CNSOPB) INVITES WRITTEN COMMENTS ON DRAFT STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT (SEA)
In January 2020, we held a 30-day commenting period on the Scoping Document for the Western Scotian Shelf and Slope SEA.
On August 4, 2020, we launched a pilot program to return to our offices in Halifax and Dartmouth. To safely return to our workplace, we developed a plan, created new health and safety protocols and provided training to all staff. Following several weeks of testing our new COVID-19 health and safety measures, the majority of staff have now returned to our offices part-time to accommodate physical distancing and capacity reductions, while continuing to work the remainder of time remotely.
Atlantic Canada Offshore Petroleum Industry Safe Lifting Practice Respecting the Design, Operation and Maintenance of Materials Handling Equipment
The federal Minister of Natural Resources and the provincial Minister of Energy and Mines have jointly set aside the implementation of the three fundamental decisions pertaining to the making of Call for Bids NS20-1.
On April 29, 2020, our Chief Safety Officer (CSO) amended a clause to the March 25, 2020 Order Respecting Essential Employees. This amendment ensures that we are informed of all the measures in place prior to transporting offshore workers on vessels or aircraft, and the acceptance of COVID-19 management plans by the CSO.
Pursuant to subsection 32(2) of the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Resources Accord Implementation Act and subsection 32(2) of the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Resources Accord Implementation (Nova Scotia) Act (Accord Acts), the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board is providing notice of three fundamental decisions respecting Call for Bids NS20-1 made on March 10, 2020. The three fundamental decisions are:
