| Code of Practice - ExxonMobil Canada
Personnel Working Near "the Gully"
A Code of Practice to protect the uniqueness and integrity of "The Gully" has been developed as an integral part of ExxonMobil Canada's environmental protection planning. The intent is to provide a guide for the design, development and implementation of the Sable Project so that the sensitive and valued environment of "The Gully" is protected. No attempt is made here to define precisely the area of "The Gully"; but, rather to provide clear guidance on the environmental issues of concern relating to the general area known as the Gully.
The core of the Gully is a prominent submarine erosional canyon at the edge of the Scotian Shelf, approximately 45 kilometres east of Sable Island. Although the oceanographic and biological characteristics of this area have not been well researched, it is thought to be an area of extremely high productivity and critically important marine mammal habitat. Fifteen species of whale and dolphin have been identified in the area and eight are commonly found there. Most notably, the Gully supports a resident population of approximately 280 Northern Bottlenose Whales. This species is very curious in nature, which make them more prone than other species to collisions with ships.
Through the Canadian Coast Guard Notice to mariners, the core area of the Gully has been declared as one of three "whale sanctuaries" on the East Coast of Canada. There is also an ongoing effort to establish the Gully as a marine protected area. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) and others are considering Marine Protected Area Status for the area, and the Canadian Parks Service has identified the Gully as a feature meriting special status.
The intent of ExxonMobil Canada's Code of Practice is to provide clarity to all personnel working with ExxonMobil Canada on aspects of the project concerning interactions between project activities and the Gully. The Code of Practice addresses the following:
- Vessel routing near the Gully;
- Aircraft flights near the Gully; and,
- Waste management.
Unless the Master of a project related vessel deems it necessary for the safe and prudent operation of their vessel, with respect to the general Gully area, no project-generated vessel traffic is permitted to proceed into the core area of the Sable Gully which was identified as the Sable Gully Area of Interest (AOI) in the December 1998 DFO document "The Sable Gully Conservation Strategy". The boundaries of the Sable Gully AOI are illustrated in the attached Figure: Sable Gully Area of Area of Interest (AOI) (a map from "The Sable Gully Conservation Strategy" document).
ExxonMobil Canada related aircraft in regular transit to and from any ExxonMobil Canada platforms, vessels or drilling units are restricted from flying over Sable Island or the DFO Whale Sanctuary. In a life threatening emergency or with written approval from the appropriate government agencies and written approval from ExxonMobil Canada, any or all of the above restrictions are waived.
All ExxonMobil Canada related activities will be undertaken in a manner consistent with sound environmental practices, minimizing any adverse impact on the environment and in accordance with all applicable laws. Subject to any other applicable law, all refuse produced as a result of such activities will be handled in the following manner:
- All fuel, oil, oily material or lubricants are collected in a closed system that is designed for that purpose;
- All oil or oily material that is not burned on a vessel, platform or drilling unit and all non-combustible material is transported in a suitable container to, and disposed of at, a waste disposal facility on land;
- Where combustible material is burned, when approved, on a vessel, platform or drilling unit, precautions are to be taken to ensure that the fire does not endanger any person or the safety of the vessel, platform or drilling unit.
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