Royal Society panel says moratoria on oil & gas activity off BC coast can be lifted

A four-person expert panel of the Royal Society of Canada (RSC) has concluded that the decades-old moratoria on oil and gas activity off the coast of British Columbia can be lifted, providing that regulations are in place to ensure all relevant science gaps are filled before exploration and drilling occur. The report — undertaken at the request of the minister of Natural Resources Canada — has raised the ire of groups such as the David Suzuki Foundation, which criticized the RSC for its short time table and ignoring issues surrounding marine mammals.

Entitled Report of the Expert Panel on Science Issues Related to Oil and Gas Activities, Offshore British Columbia, the 156-page document identified 17 science gaps pertaining to the impact of oil and gas activity in the Queen Charlotte Basin. It concluded that lifting the federal and provincial moratoria would actually “enhance the opportunities for filling many of the science gaps, through cost-shared partnerships involving industry participation”.

The RSC expert panel recommends the creation of an advisory body to advise government, industry and regulators on oil and gas projects and requirements for safe practice. It also calls for work to begin on eight baseline studies as soon as possible and prior to any development. Other recommendations pertain to monitoring studies, protected areas and exclusion zones.

While it concludes that there are no science gaps that need to be filled before lifting the moratoria, it says the current restriction on tanker traffic along the West Coast should be maintained at least until detailed risk analysis is complete.

In recommending the lifting of moratoria, the RSC panel notes that it would take at least 15 years before actual production of oil or gas was ready to commence.

In addition to identifying science gaps, the expert panel was also asked to consult with First Nations and hold public hearings to elicit the views of the greater public. The David Suzuki Foundation provided the panel with a written submission but was denied permission to make a public presentation.

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