Environmental Effects Monitoring
Offshore operators prepare Environmental Effects Monitoring (EEM) plans to identify and quantify any environmental effects related to their operations. These plans are designed to evaluate the effectiveness of actions to reduce effects, provide an early warning of undesirable changes in the environment, and assist in identifying research and development needs.
EEM programs are generally comprised of the sampling of marine sediments and one or more fishery species, both near the installations and at more distant control sites. The plans are developed according to guidelines outlined in the Environmental Effects Monitoring Coordination Framework developed by the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board (C-NLOPB), Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board (C-NSOPB), the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans and Environment Canada.
EEM is an adaptive process that builds on lessons learned from previous years of monitoring, including monitoring from other offshore projects. Every year, EEM results are submitted to regulators via annual reports which are posted to the C-NLOPB and C-NSOPB websites. The reports include a proposed new EEM plan for the upcoming year.
To date, EEM programs submitted by offshore operators in Atlantic Canada show no adverse impacts.