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Revised EA Report Environmental Assessment of Multiklient Invest Newfoundland Offshore Seismic Program, 2018–2023 Prepared by Prepared for Multiklient Invest AS & TGS-NOPEC Geophysical Company ASA March 2018 LGL Report No. FA0106A Environmental Assessment of Multiklient Invest Newfoundland Offshore Seismic Program, 2018–2023 Prepared by LGL Limited, environmental research associates P.O. Box 13248, Stn. A St. John’s, NL A1B 4A5 Tel: 709-754-1992 [email protected] Prepared for Multiklient Invest AS Lilleakerveien 4C, P.O. Box 251 Lilleaker, 0216, Oslo, Norway & TGS-NOPEC Geophysical Company ASA 1051 Clay Road Houston, Texas, 77043, USA March 2018 LGL Report No. FA0106A Suggested Format for Citation: LGL Limited. 2018. Environmental Assessment of Multiklient Invest Newfoundland Offshore Seismic Program, 2018–2023. LGL Rep. FA0106A. Rep. by LGL Limited, St. John’s, NL for Multiklient Invest AS, Oslo, Norway, and TGS-NOPEC Geophysical Company ASA, Houston, Texas, USA. 233 p. + Appendix. Table of Contents Page List of Figures ................................................................................................................................ vi List of Tables ................................................................................................................................. ix 1.0 Introduction ..........................................................................................................................1 1.1 Relevant Legislation and Regulatory Approvals .....................................................2 1.2 The Operator ............................................................................................................3 1.3 Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Benefits ........................................................3 1.4 Contacts....................................................................................................................3 1.4.1 Multiklient Invest AS ...................................................................................3 1.4.2 TGS-NOPEC Geophysical Company ASA .................................................4 2.0 Project Description...............................................................................................................6 2.1 Spatial and Temporal Boundaries ............................................................................6 2.2 Project Overview .....................................................................................................7 2.2.1 Objectives and Rationale .............................................................................9 2.2.2 Project Scheduling .......................................................................................9 2.2.3 Site Plans ......................................................................................................9 2.2.4 Personnel ......................................................................................................9 2.2.5 Seismic Vessel .............................................................................................9 2.2.6 Seismic Energy Source Parameters ...........................................................11 2.2.7 Seismic Streamers ......................................................................................12 2.2.8 Logistics/Support .......................................................................................12 2.2.8.1 Vessels .......................................................................................12 2.2.8.2 Crew Changes ............................................................................12 2.2.8.3 Shore Base, Support and Staging ..............................................12 2.2.9 Waste Management ....................................................................................12 2.2.10 Air Emissions .............................................................................................13 2.2.11 Accidental Events ......................................................................................13 2.3 Mitigation and Monitoring .....................................................................................13 2.4 Project Site Information .........................................................................................13 2.4.1 Environmental Features .............................................................................13 2.4.1.1 Physical Environment and Potential Effects on the Project ......15 2.4.1.2 Biological Environment ............................................................15 2.5 Consultations..........................................................................................................15 2.6 Effects of the Project on the Environment .............................................................16 2.7 Environmental Monitoring.....................................................................................17 3.0 Physical Environment ........................................................................................................18 3.1 Bathymetry and Geology .......................................................................................18 3.2 Climatology............................................................................................................19 3.2.1 Wind ...........................................................................................................20 3.2.2 Waves .........................................................................................................21 3.2.3 Wind and Wave Extreme Value Analysis .................................................23 3.2.3.1 Extreme Value Estimates for Winds from the Gumbel Distribution ................................................................................23 Environmental Assessment – MKI Newfoundland Offshore Seismic Program, 2018–2023 Page ii 3.2.3.2 Extreme Value Estimates for Waves from a Gumbel Distribution ................................................................................23 3.2.4 Weather Variables ......................................................................................24 3.2.4.1 Temperature ...............................................................................24 3.2.4.2 Visibility ....................................................................................25 3.2.5 Weather Systems ........................................................................................29 3.3 Physical Oceanography ..........................................................................................30 3.3.1 Major Currents in the Study Area ..............................................................31 3.4 Ice Conditions ........................................................................................................34 3.4.1 Sea Ice ........................................................................................................34 3.4.2 Icebergs ......................................................................................................37 4.0 Biological Environment .....................................................................................................40 4.1 Ecosystem ..............................................................................................................40 4.2 Fish and Fish Habitat VEC ....................................................................................40 4.2.1 Fish Habitat ................................................................................................40 4.2.1.1 Plankton .....................................................................................41 4.2.1.2 Benthic Invertebrates .................................................................44 4.2.2 Fish .............................................................................................................50 4.2.2.1 Principal Macro-invertebrates and Fishes Commercially Harvested ...................................................................................50 4.2.2.2 Other Fishes of Note ..................................................................55 4.2.2.3 Macroinvertebrate and Fish Reproduction in the Study Area ...........................................................................................56 4.2.3 Fish and Fish Habitat Data Gaps Identified in Relevant SEAs .................58 4.3 Fisheries VEC ........................................................................................................59 4.3.1 Information Sources ...................................................................................60 4.3.2 Regional NAFO Fisheries ..........................................................................60 4.3.3 Domestic Fisheries .....................................................................................61 4.3.3.1 Historical Fisheries ....................................................................61 4.3.3.2 Study Area Catch Analysis, 2010‒2015 ....................................63 4.3.4 Traditional and Aboriginal Fisheries .........................................................90 4.3.5 Recreational Fisheries ................................................................................90 4.3.6 Aquaculture ................................................................................................91 4.3.7 Macroinvertebrates and Fishes Collected during DFO Research Vessel (RV) Surveys ..................................................................................91 4.3.8 Industry and DFO Science Surveys .........................................................106 4.3.9 Data
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