In July 2009, OEER released the two Invitations for Commercial Proposals (ICPs) for a 30-day scientific and technical review period by stakeholders.  The ICPs studies, relating to Georges Bank, are titled “A Preliminary Review of Environmental and Socio-Economic Issues – Georges Bank” and “An Assessment of Existing and Emerging Technologies and Mitigative Measures - Focusing on Georges Bank”.  Stakeholder feedback was incorporated and the Commercial Proposals were released for bidding in October 2009.  The OEER Association has selected Stantec Consulting Limited of Halifax as the successful consultants to complete the two studies.

The purpose of these studies is to gather a body of information on issues relating to Georges Bank that have emerged since the 1999 Georges Bank Review Panel Report, and to assess the current state of knowledge. A report will be prepared for the Nova Scotia Minister of Energy. The report will aid in the provincial and federal decision due by June 2010 to determine if there should be a public review process of the moratorium on petroleum activities on Georges Bank.
 
In 1999, a Joint Review Panel conducted public hearings on the moratorium. Both the federal and provincial governments accepted the Panel’s report and recommendations, which included extending the moratorium until Dec. 31, 2012. (Click here to see the 1999 Joint Review Panel Report.)

At the time of the review, the Province also recognized a need to “…gather more research and scientific information about the Georges Bank ecosystem, particularly regarding fishing, petroleum activities and new technologies”. (Nova Scotia Royal Gazette, April 12, 2000)

“These two studies will provide critical scientific information to the Minister of Energy that will help to ensure decisions related to Georges Bank are based on the most current and accurate information available,” says Dr. Wayne St-Amour, Executive Director of the OEER Association. “Given the importance of these studies, we are confident that Stantec Consulting Limited will deliver high quality research, helping to fill the knowledge gaps that currently exist with respect to Georges Bank.”

Both studies are scheduled to be completed in the spring of 2010, followed by a science review session where the findings will be presented.

OEER is an independent not-for-profit association dedicated to fostering offshore energy and environmental research and development including examination of renewable energy resources and their interaction with the marine environment.  Members of the Association include Acadia University, St. Francis Xavier University, Cape Breton University and the Nova Scotia Department of Energy. Funding for OEER activities and research comes from grants from the Nova Scotia Department of Energy.