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Gros Morne National Park

Canada
Factors affecting the property in 2013*
  • Oil and gas
International Assistance: requests for the property until 2013
Requests approved: 0
Total amount approved : 0 USD
Missions to the property until 2013**
Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 2013

On 4 February 2013 the World Heritage Centre contacted the State Party in reference to information received on plans for directional drilling and hydraulic fracturing by the Shoal Point Energy company in community enclaves surrounded by the World Heritage property. The World Heritage Centre indicated concerns that these exploratory activities could threaten the Outstanding Universal Value, and in particular the integrity, of the property and requested more information.

A response from the State Party on 25 February confirmed that Shoal Point Energy had plans to drill and hydraulically fracture (frack) three onshore-to-offshore test wells in 2013. Exploration activities would begin in the spring of 2013 in one of the enclaves at Sally’s Cove, located less than 500 meters from the Gros Morne National Park boundary, and could be extended to other enclaves including St Paul’s as well as other locations in the vicinity of the property. The response further noted that a Strategic Environmental Assessment process for the western Newfoundland offshore area adjacent to the Gros Morne National Park would be undertaken, led by the joint federal-provincial Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board (C-NLOPB). The response indicated that Parks Canada had been invited to participate as a stakeholder to provide input in this process.

The State Party subsequently sent updated information to the World Heritage Centre (received on  8 April), in which they indicated that Shoal Point Energy and Black Spruce Exploration Corp had submitted a project description and draft scoping document for exploratory drilling for the period 2013-2019, and that C-NLOPB had invited relevant federal and provincial agencies to comment on these documents and to indicate whether they had the specialist or expert knowledge necessary to participate in the environmental assessment process. The State Party noted that Parks Canada had confirmed its expertise and desire to participate in the environmental assessment process.

 

The State Party’s communication noted that in addition to the C-NLOPB process, the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador would also conduct an environmental assessment and would invite Parks Canada to participate. The State Party also noted the likelihood that the C-NLOPB and provincial environmental assessment processes would be conducted jointly. The second communication reiterated Parks Canada’s commitment to participate in all environmental assessment processes.

Analysis and Conclusion by World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies in 2013

The World Heritage Centre and IUCN conclude that plans to drill and hydraulically fracture (frack) three onshore-to-offshore test wells in the immediate vicinity of the property could impact the Outstanding Universal Value and in particular the integrity of the property as a result of pollution, industrial infrastructure and shocks to geological formations.

They recommend that the Committee urge the State Party to complete the Environmental Impact Assessment process to review these impacts and to submit its result for review to the World Heritage Centre before taking a final decision. In particular, it is recommended that the State Party proceed with assessments on the possible impacts of drilling and hydraulic fracturing activities, such as offshore leakage reaching the property, pollutants affecting pristine lakes on the property, and the risk of rock fall from high cliffs caused by shocks during hydraulic fracturing, including areas of the property with high visitation.

 

They further recommend that a joint World Heritage Centre/IUCN reactive monitoring mission be sent to the property to assess potential risks to the Outstanding Universal Value from activities in enclaves surrounded by the property and other areas bordering the property.

Decisions adopted by the Committee in 2013
37 COM 7B.18
Gros-Morne National Park (Canada) (N 419)

The World Heritage Committee,

1.  Having examined Document WHC-13/37.COM/7B.Add,

2.  Notes with serious concern the plans to drill and hydraulically fracture (frack) three onshore-to-offshore test wells in the immediate vicinity of the property which could impact the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) and in particular the integrity of the property as a result of pollution, industrial infrastructure and shocks to geological formations;

3.  Urges the State Party to complete the Environmental Impact Assessment process to review the potential impacts on the OUV of the property and to submit a copy of the EIA to the World Heritage Centre, in accordance with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines , prior to making any decisions that would be difficult to reverse;

4.  Requests the State Party to invite a joint World Heritage Centre/IUCN reactive monitoring mission to the property to assess these risks;

5.  Also requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2014 , an updated report on the state of conservation of the property, including the conclusions of the environmental assessment process, for consideration by the World Heritage Committee at its 38th Session in 2014.

Draft Decision:  37 COM 7B.18

The World Heritage Committee,

1.  Having examined Document WHC-13/37.COM/7B.Add,

2.  Notes with serious concern the plans to drill and hydraulically fracture (frack) three onshore-to-offshore test wells in the immediate vicinity of the property which could impact the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) and in particular the integrity of the property as a result of pollution, industrial infrastructure and shocks to geological formations;

3.  Urges the State Party to complete the Environmental Impact Assessment process to review the potential impacts on the OUV of the property and to submit a copy of the EIA to the World Heritage Centre, in accordance with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines, prior to making any decisions that would be difficult to reverse;

4.  Requests the State Party to invite a joint World Heritage Centre/IUCN reactive monitoring mission to the property to assess these risks;

5.  Also requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2014, an updated report on the state of conservation of the property, including the conclusions of the environmental assessment process, for consideration by the World Heritage Committee at its 38th Session in 2014.

 

Report year: 2013
Canada
Date of Inscription: 1987
Category: Natural
Criteria: (vii)(viii)
Documents examined by the Committee
arrow_circle_right 37COM (2013)
Exports

* : The threats indicated are listed in alphabetical order; their order does not constitute a classification according to the importance of their impact on the property.
Furthermore, they are presented irrespective of the type of threat faced by the property, i.e. with specific and proven imminent danger (“ascertained danger”) or with threats which could have deleterious effects on the property’s Outstanding Universal Value (“potential danger”).

** : All mission reports are not always available electronically.


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