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Using Strategic Environmental Assessments to Guide Oil and Gas Exploration Decisions: Applying Lessons Learned from Atlantic Canada to the Beaufort Sea
Author(s) -
Doelle Meinhard,
Bankes Nigel,
Porta Louie
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
review of european, comparative and international environmental law
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.37
H-Index - 18
eISSN - 2050-0394
pISSN - 2050-0386
DOI - 10.1111/reel.12018
Subject(s) - beaufort sea , offshore oil and gas , submarine pipeline , oil spill , oceanography , environmental planning , environmental resource management , environmental science , sea ice , geology , environmental protection
The M acondo oil spill in the G ulf of M exico has spurred renewed global interest in the regulation of offshore oil and gas exploration, particularly in deepwater areas. At the same time, many jurisdictions are experimenting with strategic environmental assessment ( SEA ) processes to fill gaps in more traditional project‐based decision‐making processes. This article explores the potential of SEA to enhance decision making for exploration in deepwater environments. It does so by examining the experience with SEA s on the east coast of C anada, and applying the lessons learned to the B eaufort S ea. By looking at the issue in two very different environments, we can draw lessons that may also apply to deepwater exploration elsewhere.