Environmental Assessment of StatoilHydro Canada Ltd. Exploration and Appraisal/Delineation Drilling Program for Offshore Newfoundland, 2008-2016 Prepared by for March 2008 Project No. SA947b Environmental Assessment of StatoilHydro Canada Ltd. Exploration and Appraisal/Delineation Drilling Program for Offshore Newfoundland, 2008-2016 Prepared by LGL Limited environmental research associates 388 Kenmount Road, Box 13248, Stn. A., St. John’s, NL A1B 4A5 Tel: 709-754-1992 [email protected] www.lgl.com In Association With Canning & Pitt Associates, Inc. Box 21461, St. John's, NL A1A 5G2 Tel: 709-738-0133 www.canpitt.ca and Oceans Limited 65A LeMarchant Road St. John’s, NL A1C 2G9 Tel: 709-753-5788 Prepared for StatoilHydro Canada Ltd. Suite 600, Scotia Centre 235 Water Street St. John’s, NL A1C 1B6 March 2008 Project No. SA947b Suggested format for citation: LGL Limited. 2008. Environmental Assessment of StatoilHydro Canada Ltd. Exploration and Appraisal/Delineation Drilling Program for Offshore Newfoundland, 2008-2016. LGL Rep. SA947b. Rep. by LGL Limited, Canning & Pitt Associates Inc., and Oceans Ltd., St. John’s, NL, for StatoilHydro Canada Ltd., St. John’s, NL. 292 p. + appendices. Table of Contents Page List of Figures............................................................................................................................................ vi List of Tables ...............................................................................................................................................x 1.0 Introduction......................................................................................................................................1 2.0 The Operator....................................................................................................................................5 2.1. Operator’s Objectives........................................................................................................5 2.2. Social Responsibility and Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Benefits.........................6 2.3. Operator Contacts..............................................................................................................6 3.0 Project Overview.............................................................................................................................7 3.1. Personnel...........................................................................................................................7 3.2. Name and Location of Proposed Project............................................................................7 3.3. Alternatives to Project/Alternative Means within Project................................................11 3.4. Mobile Offshore Drilling Units .......................................................................................11 3.5. Logistic Support ..............................................................................................................12 3.5.1. Marine Support Vessels ........................................................................................ 12 3.5.2. Helicopter Support................................................................................................ 13 3.5.3. Shorebase Facilities .............................................................................................. 13 3.5.4. Ice Management.................................................................................................... 13 3.6. Project Components/Structures/Activities .......................................................................13 3.6.1. General.................................................................................................................. 13 3.6.2. Project Phases....................................................................................................... 14 3.6.3. Project Scheduling................................................................................................ 14 3.6.4. Description of Waste Discharges, Air Emissions and Treatment......................... 15 3.6.5. Geohazard and VSP Surveys ................................................................................ 20 3.6.6. Geotechnical Testing............................................................................................ 20 3.6.7. Onsite Environmental/Ice Observers .................................................................... 20 3.6.8. Project Site Information........................................................................................ 21 3.6.9. Effects of the Environment on the Project............................................................ 23 3.7. Consultations...................................................................................................................23 4.0 Physical Environment ....................................................................................................................24 4.1. Geochemical....................................................................................................................24 4.1.1. Geology................................................................................................................. 24 4.1.2. Chemical Environment ......................................................................................... 24 4.2. Climatology.....................................................................................................................26 4.2.1. Data Sources......................................................................................................... 30 4.2.3. Waves.................................................................................................................... 37 4.2.4. Air and Sea Temperature ...................................................................................... 49 4.2.5. Precipitation ....................................................................................................................52 4.2.6. Visibility..........................................................................................................................54 StatoilHydro’s Drilling Program LGL Limited Environmental Assessment Page ii 4.2.7. Tropical Storms ...............................................................................................................57 4.3. Physical Oceanography ...................................................................................................66 4.3.1. General Description of the Major Currents .......................................................... 66 4.3.2. Currents in the Project Area.................................................................................. 69 4.3.3. Water Mass Structure............................................................................................ 72 4.3.4. Water Properties in the Project Area .................................................................... 73 4.4. Ice and Icebergs...............................................................................................................81 4.4.1. Sea Ice................................................................................................................... 81 4.4.2. Icebergs................................................................................................................. 83 5.0 Biological Environment.................................................................................................................87 5.1. Ecosystem .......................................................................................................................87 5.2. Invertebrates and Fish .....................................................................................................87 5.2.1. Marine Habitats..................................................................................................... 87 5.2.2. Profiles of Commercially-Important Species........................................................ 90 5.2.3. Invertebrate and Fish Spawning............................................................................ 93 5.2.4. DFO Research Survey Data, 2005-2006............................................................... 93 5.3. Commercial Fisheries....................................................................................................103 5.3.1. Data..................................................................................................................... 103 5.3.2. Consultations....................................................................................................... 104 5.3.3. Historical Overview of Area Fisheries ............................................................... 104 5.3.4. Current Domestic Harvests................................................................................. 107 5.3.5. Fisheries Research.............................................................................................. 130 5.4. Seabirds.........................................................................................................................130 5.4.1. Seasonal Abundance of Seabirds in the Study Area........................................... 130 5.4.2. Prey and Foraging Habits.................................................................................... 136 5.5. Marine Mammals ..........................................................................................................138 5.5.1. DFO Cetacean Sighting Database....................................................................... 142 5.5.2. Species Profiles..................................................................................................