DECISION

June 29, 2005 -- The Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board has completed the comprehensive study of the BEPCo. Canada Company - EL 2407 Exploration Drilling Program and on June 29, 2005 determined to take the following course of action. The authority may exercise any power or perform any duty or function with respect to the project because, after having taken into consideration the comprehensive study report, the responsible authority is of the opinion that the project is not likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects.

As detailed in the environmental assessment report, mitigation measures have been required for the project to address:

• water quality
• noise levels
• fauna at risk (as defined under the Species at Risk Act)
• mammals and/or their habitat
• birds and/or their habitat
• reptiles and/or their habitat
• socio-economic impacts
• seabed/ benthic communities

A follow-up program has been implemented to verify the accuracy of the environmental assessment of a project and/or determine the effectiveness of any measures taken to mitigate the adverse environmental effects of the project. It is estimated this program will start on March 1, 2006 and continue until March 1, 2010.

For more information or how to obtain a full description of the follow-up program and its results, please contact: