1. Sable Gas Project A brief overview of the facilitation of development approval by way of the Environmental Impact Assessment

2. The Project n Sable Offshore Energy Project - ( Mobil Oil 50%, Shell 35%, Imperial Oil 9%, NS Resources Ltd.) n Maritime & Northeast Pipeline - ( Westcoast Energy 37.5%, Duke Energy 37.5%, Mobil Oil 25.0%) n $$$ - 3 billion dollar undertaking n Supply - 25 years worth of gas n Jobs - 3000 - 5000 during the construction phase n When- Scheduled to begin gas flow November, 1999

3. Many Obstacles for Opposition Groups n John Livingston (1981)-“a grandiloquent fraud, a hoax, and a con” n EIA’s have come a long way since but... n The Joint Public Review Panel consisted of a panel of judges from NEB n In 1987, the NEB gave equal value to foreign and domestic production n NEB assumes the attitude of industry

4. Information n Industry new to the Maritimes n Critical material not readily available for local public and opposition groups n Overwhelming amount of literature n Proponents controlled the data base and the essential parameters of discussion n The Media focused on corporate concerns and economics, no in-depth reports of those in opposition

5. Process of development n 1960 - natural gas first discovered - 125 test wells drilled off N.S. n 1970 - EIA carried out - project approved n 1984 - well blow out n All done without asking: Is there a real need for natural gas in the first place?

6. Public Hearings n Designed for lawyers and professional lobbyists n Complex, bureaucratic, legalistic n 65 lawyers on any one day n Federal money available for groups n Request for independent studies denied n Scope of project narrow

7. Onshore n “Not in my backyard” n Vocal opposition groups withdrew from process as concessions were made to move the pipeline from their area n Loss of valuable voices

8. Consulting Process n Non-formal meetings on company terms n Long sessions n Public discouraged by experts n No independently chaired meetings for distributing unbiased information to public

9. “Insignificant Adverse Environmental Effect ” n End-use of natural gas n Safety concerns - leakage, explosions n “The Gully” n Diverse, rich, fragile marine & wildlife n Onshore pipelines cut forests, farm land n Greenhouse gases released at plant n “Acceptable level”

10. Thank You