GXT Northeast Greenland 2011 Marine Survey Environmental Impact Assessment (from GXT’s Survey Program Application) Prepared for the Bureau of Minerals and Petroleum Nuuk, Greenland GX Technology Corporation May 2011 GXT NE Greenland 2011 Marine Survey Program EIA 0 GX Technology Corporation May 2011 (with revisions, July 2011) Prepared by GXT with assistance (environmental impact assessment) from LGL Ltd, St. John‘s and King City, Canada Cover photos by Kevin Simpson, GXT GXT NE Greenland 2011 Marine Survey Program EIA 1 Contents 1 Relevant Project Components and Method............................................................................ 5 1.1 Recent Studies and Assessments ..................................................................................... 6 2 Project Area Environment (Physical, Biological and Human Use) ....................................... 8 2.1 Physical Oceanography .................................................................................................... 8 2.1.1 Currents ........................................................................................................8 2.1.2 Ice .................................................................................................................8 2.2 Biological Environment ................................................................................................... 9 2.2.1 Primary Production, Zooplankton and Marine Invertebrates ......................9 2.2.2 Ice Fauna and Flora ......................................................................................9 2.2.3 Fish ...............................................................................................................9 2.2.4 Marine-Associated Birds .............................................................................9 2.2.5 Marine Mammals .......................................................................................10 2.2.6 Threatened Species ....................................................................................17 2.2.7 Protected Areas and Areas of Interest ........................................................18 2.2.8 Subsistence Hunting and Fisheries ............................................................18 3 Impact Assessment............................................................................................................... 20 3.1 Impact Assessment Methods.......................................................................................... 20 3.2 Spatial and Temporal Boundaries .................................................................................. 20 3.3 Identification of Potential Impacts ................................................................................. 21 3.4 Impact Definitions and Evaluation of Impact Significance ........................................... 22 3.4.1 Magnitude of Impacts ................................................................................23 3.4.2 Spatial Extent .............................................................................................27 3.4.3 Duration of Impacts ...................................................................................27 3.4.4 Significance of Impacts..............................................................................27 3.4.5 Level of Confidence ...................................................................................28 3.5 Potential Impact of Project Activities ............................................................................ 28 3.5.1 Underwater Sound .....................................................................................28 3.5.2 Effects of Sound on Marine Animals.........................................................29 3.6 Effects on Marine Mammals (Seismic Array) ............................................................... 32 3.6.1 Narwhals ....................................................................................................32 3.6.2 Bowhead Whales .......................................................................................35 3.6.3 Walruses .....................................................................................................37 3.6.4 Seals ...........................................................................................................38 3.6.5 Polar Bears .................................................................................................39 3.7 Effects on Marine Mammals (Vessel and Ice Breaker Traffic) ..................................... 40 3.7.1 Narwhal ......................................................................................................40 3.7.2 Bowhead Whales .......................................................................................41 3.7.3 Walrus ........................................................................................................41 3.7.4 Seals ...........................................................................................................42 3.7.5 Polar Bears .................................................................................................42 3.8 Effects on Marine-associated Birds ............................................................................... 42 3.8.1 Potential Effects of Seismic Survey Sounds ..............................................43 3.8.2 Potential Effects of Vessel and Icebreaker Traffic ....................................44 3.9 Effects on Zooplankton .................................................................................................. 44 3.10 Effects on Macroinvertebrates ....................................................................................... 45 3.10.1 Sound Detection .........................................................................................45 3.10.2 Potential Effects of Seismic Survey Sound ...............................................45 3.11 Effects on Fish ............................................................................................................... 46 GXT NE Greenland 2011 Marine Survey Program EIA 2 3.11.1 Hearing in Fish ...........................................................................................46 3.11.2 Potential Effects of Seismic Survey Sound ...............................................47 3.11.3 Potential Effects of Vessel and Icebreaker Sound on Fish ........................49 3.12 Accidental Events .......................................................................................................... 49 3.12.1 Probability of Occurrence ..........................................................................49 3.12.2 Mitigation ...................................................................................................49 3.12.3 Residual Risk .............................................................................................50 3.12.4 Potential Environmental Effects ................................................................50 3.13 Cumulative Effects......................................................................................................... 52 3.13.1 Tourism ......................................................................................................53 3.13.2 Fishing Activity .........................................................................................53 3.13.3 Research Cruises ........................................................................................53 3.13.4 Assessment of Cumulative Impacts ...........................................................54 3.14 Data Gaps and Potential Research ................................................................................. 54 4 Environmental Management and Mitigations Summary ..................................................... 56 4.1 Best Technology and Best Practices .............................................................................. 56 4.2 Marine Mammals and Seismic Array Operations .......................................................... 56 4.3 Fishing Activities ........................................................................................................... 58 4.4 Important Wildlife Areas and Protection Zones ............................................................ 58 4.5 Monitoring ..................................................................................................................... 58 4.5.1 Fisheries .....................................................................................................58 4.5.2 Marine Mammals .......................................................................................58 4.6 Waste Management and Pollution Prevention ............................................................... 60 4.7 Other Environmental Conditions ................................................................................... 60 5 References / Citations .......................................................................................................... 62 Figures Figure 1. GXT NE Greenland 2011 Seismic Program and Study Areas ................................... 7 Figure 2. The Locations of Important Bird Areas (IBAs) and Ramsar sites ........................... 11 Figure 3. Narwhal Summering Areas in and near the Study Area........................................... 12 Figure 4. Bowhead and Narwhal Protection Zones in and near the Study Area. .................... 14 Figure 5. Walrus Protection Zones in and near the Study Area............................................... 16 Figure 6. Oil Spill Sensitive