Public Notice
Eastern Newfoundland Offshore Exploration Drilling Project — Public Comments Invited

September 28, 2016 – The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (the Agency) must decide whether a federal environmental assessment is required for the proposed Eastern Newfoundland Offshore Exploration Drilling Project, located approximately 250 kilometres east of St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador.

To help inform this decision, the Agency is seeking comments from the public on the project and its potential effects on the environment, as described in the summary of the project description. All comments received will be considered public.

Written comments must be submitted by October 19, 2016 to:

Eastern Newfoundland Offshore Exploration Drilling Project
Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
200-1801 Hollis Street
Halifax, Nova Scotia B3J 3N4
Telephone: 902-426-0564
Email: CEAA.EasternNLOffshore-ExtracotierEstTN.ACEE@ceaa-acee.gc.ca

To view a summary of the project description or for more information, visit the Agency's website (Registry reference number 80132).

The Proposed Project

ExxonMobil Canada Ltd. (ExxonMobil) is proposing to conduct an exploration drilling project within offshore exploration licenses located in both the Jeanne d'Arc Basin and the Flemish Pass Basin, approximately 250 kilometres east of St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador. As proposed, the Eastern Newfoundland Offshore Exploration Drilling Project would include the drilling of up to 35 wells within a 12-year period, starting in 2018. The project would allow ExxonMobil to determine the presence, nature and quantities of the potential hydrocarbon resource.

The drilling would be in areas within exploration licences currently held by ExxonMobil and its partners. Should additional exploration licences be acquired by ExxonMobil as a result of the 2016 Call for Bids processes (NL16-CFB01 and NL16-CFB02) being conducted by the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board, these may be incorporated into the environmental assessment should the Agency determine that one is required.