Port au Port Bay Exploration Drilling Program Environmental Assessment Prepared by Prepared for June 2007 SA930 Port au Port Bay Exploration Drilling Program Environmental Assessment Prepared by LGL Limited environmental research associates P.O. Box 13248, Stn. A St. John’s, NL A1B 4A5 709-754-1992 (p) 709 754-7718 (f) in association with Prepared for PDI Production Inc. Suite 201 Baine Johnston Centre 10 Fort William Place St John's, NL A1C 1K4 June 2007 SA930 Table of Contents Page Table of Contents........................................................................................................................................ ii List of Figures............................................................................................................................................ vi List of Tables ...........................................................................................................................................viii 1.0 Introduction..................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1. The Proponent..................................................................................................................... 1 1.1.1. EA Contact.............................................................................................................. 1 1.1.2. Operator .................................................................................................................. 1 1.1.3. Partners ................................................................................................................... 1 2.0 Project Overview............................................................................................................................ 4 2.1. Purpose of the Project ......................................................................................................... 4 2.2. Relevant Legislation and Regulatory Approvals ................................................................ 5 2.3. Document Organization......................................................................................................6 3.0 Project Description.......................................................................................................................... 7 3.1. Name and Location............................................................................................................. 7 3.2. Alternatives......................................................................................................................... 7 3.3. Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Benefits................................................................... 7 3.3.1. Required Resources................................................................................................ 9 3.3.2. Off-Site Facilities.................................................................................................... 9 3.4. Consultations..................................................................................................................... 10 3.5. Project Components, Structures, and Activities ............................................................... 10 3.5.1. Project Phases....................................................................................................... 10 3.5.2. Project Scheduling................................................................................................ 11 3.5.3. Site Plans............................................................................................................... 11 3.5.4. Mobile Drilling Units............................................................................................ 11 3.5.5. Drilling.................................................................................................................. 13 3.5.6. Well Testing.......................................................................................................... 15 3.5.7. Vertical Seismic Profiling..................................................................................... 15 3.5.8. Well Abandonment or Suspension........................................................................ 15 3.5.9. Emissions and Waste Discharges.......................................................................... 16 3.5.10. Sound .................................................................................................................... 18 3.6. Environmental Management............................................................................................. 18 4.0 Physical Environment ................................................................................................................... 19 4.1. Geology............................................................................................................................. 19 4.1.1. Bedrock and Surficial Geology............................................................................. 19 4.1.2. Topography........................................................................................................... 19 4.1.3. Bathymetry............................................................................................................ 20 4.1.4. Surface Water Bodies and Groundwater............................................................... 20 4.2. Weather Conditions and Climate...................................................................................... 22 4.2.1. Wind...................................................................................................................... 24 4.2.2. Waves.................................................................................................................... 27 ii 4.2.3. Air and Sea Surface Temperatures ....................................................................... 27 4.2.4. Visibility ............................................................................................................... 27 4.3. Physical Oceanography..................................................................................................... 27 4.3.1. Currents................................................................................................................. 29 4.3.2. Tides...................................................................................................................... 29 4.3.3. Temperature and Salinity...................................................................................... 30 4.3.4. Ice.......................................................................................................................... 31 4.4. Land Use and Resources................................................................................................... 31 4.4.1. Roadways.............................................................................................................. 32 4.4.2. Municipal and Residential Land Use.................................................................... 32 4.4.3. Agricultural Land Use........................................................................................... 34 4.4.4. Recreational Land Use.......................................................................................... 34 4.4.5. Historic Resources................................................................................................ 34 4.4.6. Industrial Land Use............................................................................................... 36 5.0 Biological Environment................................................................................................................ 40 5.1. Ecosystems........................................................................................................................ 40 5.1.1. Marine Ecosystem................................................................................................. 40 5.1.2. Terrestrial Ecosystem............................................................................................ 94 5.1.3. Species at Risk .................................................................................................... 109 5.2. Notable Areas.................................................................................................................. 119 5.2.1. Marine Invertebrates/Fish and Associated Habitat............................................. 119 5.2.2. Marine-associated Birds......................................................................................121 5.2.3. Marine Mammals................................................................................................ 122 5.2.4. Terrestrial............................................................................................................ 122 6.0 Effects Assessment Methodology............................................................................................... 123 6.1. Scoping ........................................................................................................................... 123 6.2. Consultations and Issue Identification............................................................................ 123 6.2.1. Issues and Concerns............................................................................................ 124 6.3. Valued Ecosystem Components (VECs) ........................................................................ 127 6.3.1. Marine Macroinvertebrate/Fish Habitat.............................................................. 128 6.3.2. Marine Macroinvertebrates/Fish........................................................................