Scope of the Study

• Will the study be used to determine the risk of an oil spill caused by the transport of oil by ships?
• Wouldn't it make more sense to focus on minimizing the risk first, and then assessing the response program?
• What is the area being studied?
• Will TC conduct a risk assessment in other regions of Canada? If not, why?
• When is the risk assessment expected to be completed and what will be the next steps?
• If the risk assessment finds that Canada's Marine Oil Spill Preparedness and Response  Regime requires significant enhancements to adequately respond to a major oil spill, will there be sufficient funding available to do so?

General

• Following the Prestige oil spill off the coast of Spain a few years ago, media reported on the disastrous effects that an oil spill can have on fisheries.  What assurances can you provide that Canada's marine safety and oil spill response systems can prevent or properly address such a catastrophe on Canada's coasts, especially with oil and gas activity increasing?
• Who is responsible for responding to oil spills off Canada's coasts?
• Do Transport Canada and industry response organizations have the capacity to deal with large oil spills such as the Prestige incident?  What kind of resources are available?
• Who would pay for such a response?
• How many oil tankers are there in Canadian waters each year and where can most of them be found?  How does this compare with other countries?

Scope of the Study

Will the study be used to determine the risk of an oil spill caused by the transport of oil by ships?

The study will assess and quantify the risk facing the south coast of Newfoundland and Labrador over the next 10 years by the transportation of oil and oil products by commercial vessels.  The results of the study will allow TC to evaluate the level of preparedness provided by Canada's Marine Oil Spill Preparedness and Response Regime and make adjustments to it, as required. 

Wouldn't it make more sense to focus on minimizing the risk first, and then assessing the response program?

TC is already taking steps to minimize the risks of oil pollution by updating its regulations as part of an overall program to identify and minimize risk, and in the unlikely occurrence of an oil spill, to respond and minimize the impact on the environment.  However, protecting the marine environment is a priority for the department, which is precisely why we are conducting this study to assess the risks of pollution along the south coast of Newfoundland and Labrador and to ensure that the response regime continues to be adequate should an oil spill occur.

What is the area being studied?

As a result of consultations with stakeholders, the area of study is the entire south coast of Newfoundland, from Cape St. Francis to Cape Ray, including Placentia Bay to the 50-mile limit.

Will TC conduct a risk assessment in other regions of Canada? If not, why?

While the study will focus on the south coast of Newfoundland, Transport Canada intends to use the results of the study to evaluate risks elsewhere in the country, as required.  Key marine activity indicators such as the number of oil loadings and unloadings by port, marine traffic, offshore oil production, and the ongoing exploration for hydrocarbons on the east coast of Canada suggest the need to assess the potential risk of spills in this specific area. 

When is the risk assessment expected to be completed and what will be the next steps?

The study is expected to be completed by the Fall of 2006. It will provide TC with extremely valuable information to assess the level of preparedness provided by Canada's Marine Oil Spill Preparedness and Response Regime, given the level of environmental risk identified in the study, and will make necessary adjustments as required.

If the risk assessment finds that Canada's Marine Oil Spill Preparedness and Response  Regime requires significant enhancements to adequately respond to a major oil spill, will there be sufficient funding available to do so?

It is premature to speculate on the findings of the study, or on any possible need for an increase in funding.  Canada's Marine Oil Spill Preparedness and Response Regime provides a substantial preparedness capacity for Newfoundland and Labrador.  However, if the results of the study indicate that adjustments are required, Transport Canada will develop the necessary strategies and consult with stakeholders prior to making any changes.

General

Following the Prestige oil spill off the coast of Spain a few years ago, media reported on the disastrous effects that an oil spill can have on fisheries.  What assurances can you provide that Canada's marine safety and oil spill response systems can prevent or properly address such a catastrophe on Canada's coasts, especially with oil and gas activity increasing?

Canada's national system of oil spill preparedness and response is built upon a successful partnership between government and industry. 

Oil spill response plans are in place, and there are regular exercises under the direction of Transport Canada between regions within Canada and the United States.  In addition, Transport Canada has an inspection process in place to ensure that ships entering Canadian waters meet applicable safety standards.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada scientists have conducted specific studies on sample hydrocarbons from our offshore oil and gas reserves to ensure that we have appropriate information for response plans.  These scientists are on Regional Emergency Response Teams to ensure oil spill response decisions have minimal impacts on our fisheries and fishers habitats.  Fisheries and Oceans Canada also has several research programs underway to develop and evaluate oil spill countermeasure technologies, in addition to their laboratory facilities and expertise to monitor the impact of oil spilled in the marine environment.

Who is responsible for responding to oil spills off Canada's coasts?

Transport Canada is the lead federal agency responsible for the overall governance of Canada's Marine Oil Spill Preparedness and Response Regime. It sets the guidelines and regulatory structure for the regime and ensures that the appropriate level of preparedness is available to respond to marine oil pollution in Canada of up to 10,000 tonnes within prescribed time standards and operating environments.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada, namely the Canadian Coast Guard, is the lead federal agency responsible for coordinating response to all ship-source spills in waters under Canadian jurisdiction and mystery spills south of 60^o north latitude.

Do Transport Canada and industry response organizations have the capacity to deal with large oil spills such as the Prestige incident?  What kind of resources are available?

The Canadian Coast Guard and Response Organizations have significant response resources strategically placed throughout the country.  The Canadian regime is built on the principle of cascading resources, which means that, in the event of a large oil spill, the resources of a specific area can be supplemented with those from other regions (geographic areas) or our international partners, as needed.

Who would pay for such a response?

Canada's Marine Oil Spill Preparedness and Response Regime is built upon the Polluter Pay Principle, which makes the polluter liable for all response costs.  There are various compensation regimes available to pay for the clean-up costs, such as ships' insurance and national and international funds.

How many oil tankers are there in Canadian waters each year and where can most of them be found?  How does this compare with other countries?

There are approximately 20,000 oil tanker passages off the coast of Canada each year.  Of these, a total of approximately 17,000 occur on the east coast of Canada.

We do not have statistics available for the number of tanker passages off the coasts of other countries.