Canada’s largest environmental legal charity Ecojustice has launched legal action against the proposed offshore oil drilling off the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador.
The charity is challenging the Regional Assessment of the proposed drilling area. Ecojustice claims there are several significant issues with the assessment, including:
- The assessment failed to properly take into account the full environmental risks the drilling will have on the ecology of the area,
- The assessment will mean that and Canada will struggle to reach its GHG reduction targets.
- Ecojustice’s stated position is that the Regional Assessment will be used to create a precedent allowing the government to offer Waivers and exemptions for a wide range of drilling activities.
Ecojustice takes the position that it is flawed and erroneous for the government to use such an assessment to judge future drilling operations and will jeopardize the integrity of the Canadian Impact Assessment Act (IAA).
Ecojustice highlights in its case a 2018 oil spill in the region, which resulted in 250,000 liters (66,043 gallons) being spilled in the ocean, and none of it was recovered. The spill outlines the devesting impact offshore drilling can have on our oceans.
You can donate and support Ecojustice and its case here.
