Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board issues Call for Bids NS21-1

For Immediate Release

CANADA-NOVA SCOTIA OFFSHORE PETROLEUM BOARD ISSUES CALL FOR BIDS

(Halifax, Nova Scotia) - The Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board (CNSOPB) has issued Call for Bids NS21-1, which includes two parcels. Bids must be received by November 3, 2021 before 4:00 p.m Atlantic Time. Successful bidder(s) may be awarded Exploration Licences (ELs), subject to the federal and provincial Ministerial review and approval process set out in legislation.

The Call for Bids NS21-1 parcels are located in the southwestern Scotian Slope adjacent to Equinor Canada Ltd.'s Exploration Licences. Parcel 1 is 472,852 hectares in area and Parcel 2 is 512,755 hectares. The parcels are mostly in deep water, with depths ranging from 125 - 3,500 metres.

A Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of the Western Scotian Shelf and Slope was recently completed for the region that includes the Call for Bids NS21-1 parcels. This SEA is available here. Should an EL be issued as a result of the Call for Bids, a project-specific Environmental Assessment (EA) would be required ahead of the CNSOPB's consideration of any subsequent application by an operator to carry out exploration activity on the EL. The project-specific EA would evaluate potential environmental effects specific to a proposed project, and determine the precise mitigation measures that would be required, should the CNSOPB ultimately grant an authorization to an operator to proceed with offshore activity.

We are inviting Indigenous communities and the public to provide written comments on Call for Bids NS21-1 through our online form. The commenting period is open from May 3 - July 5, 2021. The written comments we receive will be shared publicly on the Call for Bids website. These comments will be reviewed prior to considering the issuance of exploration licences.

The Call for Bids NS21-1 website outlines the terms and conditions for the parcels, including the work deposit requirements. Please refer to www.callforbids.ca for this information, as well as detailed geoscience and regulatory information, and guidance on how to submit written comments.

About the Board

The Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board is the independent joint agency of the Governments of Canada and Nova Scotia responsible for the regulation of petroleum activities and resources offshore Nova Scotia.

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Contact:
Carl Makrides
Director, Resources and Rights
Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board

Main line: 902-422-5588
[email protected]

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