C-NLOPB - Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board
C-NLOPB - Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board
05/06/2021 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 05/06/2021 10:58
C-NLOPB Issues Administrative Monetary Penalties to Suncor Energy and Transocean Canada in Response to 2018 Unauthorized Discharge
The C-NLOPB has applied Administrative Monetary Penalties (AMPs) of $40,000 to Suncor Energy Inc. (Suncor) and $52,000 to Transocean Canada Drilling Services Ltd. (Transocean Canada) in response to an April 27, 2018 unauthorized discharge of Enviromul with Puredrill IA-35LV from the Transocean Barents MODU.
The spill was a breach by Suncor (the operator) and Transocean Canada (the drilling contractor) of their obligations under the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Atlantic Accord Implementation Act (the Accord Act), and a violation calculated under the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Administrative Monetary Penalties Regulations (the Regulations).
The Regulations classify violations into two categories: 'Type A' violations are of an administrative or record-keeping nature and 'Type B' includes all other violations, including violating safety or environmental requirements. The AMPs issued to Suncor and Transocean Canada were Type B violations. Penalty amounts are determined on a case-by-case basis in accordance with the Regulations. To date, there have been no observed impacts to marine life in the area.
The original Notices of Violation for $64,000 were issued by C-NLOPB staff to both Suncor and Transocean Canada on April 23, 2020. Both companies filed a Request for Review, pursuant to section 202.2 of the Accord Act. On conducting the reviews, a Review Committee of the Board determined that the penalties to be paid by both Suncor and Transocean Canada would be revised to $40,000 and $52,000, respectively.
For further information, the Administrative Monetary Penalty Guidelines can be found here.
Media Contact
Lesley Rideout
C-NLOPB Communications Lead
(709) 725-2900
[email protected]
Any reference in the News Release Archive to C-NLOPB e-mail addresses may have changed or been updated. All current e-mail correspondence with the Board contain @cnlopb.ca notwithstanding the address in the respective news release.