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Full-Text Articles in Oil, Gas, and Mineral Law

Big Oil Liability In Canada: Lessons From The Us And The Netherlands, David W-L Wu Oct 2023

Big Oil Liability In Canada: Lessons From The Us And The Netherlands, David W-L Wu

Dalhousie Law Journal

The number of nuisance and negligence tort claims in the US against “Big Oil” companies have grown significantly in the last five years. The Netherlands case of Milieudefensie et al v Royal Dutch Shell represents the first major success of such a claim internationally. While the US cases and Milieudefensie demonstrate starkly different approaches as to how to seek accountability from Big Oil for climate change harms, the increasing judicial engagement on these issues may mean the time is right for similar lawsuits in Canada. Three Canadian common law causes of action are examined: nuisance, negligence, and unjust enrichment. Defences …


Sustainable Seabed Mining And The Phase 1 Environmental Standards And Guidelines, Keith Macmaster Jan 2023

Sustainable Seabed Mining And The Phase 1 Environmental Standards And Guidelines, Keith Macmaster

Articles, Book Chapters, & Popular Press

The oceans are home to a rich diversity of plant and animal life and a source of food and marine resources that drive economies. Climate change and pollution are changing ocean dynamics and the ability to support life. Seabed mining in areas beyond national jurisdiction will add to the ocean's stressors and could cause severe environmental damage. The International Seabed Authority (“ISA”) is mandated to manage access to and benefits from the seabed, its subsoil and mineral resources in areas beyond national jurisdiction (the “Area”). Although the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea sets out the legal …


Impact Assessment And Responsible Business Conduct Tools In The Extractive Sector: An Environmental Human Rights Toolbox For Government, Business, Civil Society, And Indigenous Groups, Sara L. Seck, Charlotte Connolly, Penelope Simons, Audrey Axten Jul 2022

Impact Assessment And Responsible Business Conduct Tools In The Extractive Sector: An Environmental Human Rights Toolbox For Government, Business, Civil Society, And Indigenous Groups, Sara L. Seck, Charlotte Connolly, Penelope Simons, Audrey Axten

Responsible Business Conduct and Impact Assessment Law

This toolbox provides guidance on how governments, businesses, civil society, and Indigenous groups may encourage and adopt a human rights approach to impact assessment (IA). It forms part of a broader research project aimed at highlighting the interrelationship between IA laws and Responsible Business Conduct (RBC) tools, funded by the Social Sciences & Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Knowledge Synthesis Grant: Informing Best Practices in Environmental & Impact Assessments (the “KSG”).


Responsible Business Conduct In The Extractive Industries: Prospect Of Respecting Women's Human Rights In Ghana, Veronica Dossah May 2021

Responsible Business Conduct In The Extractive Industries: Prospect Of Respecting Women's Human Rights In Ghana, Veronica Dossah

LLM Theses

Business operations in the extractive industries (EI) continue to violate women’s human rights and the environment in the communities in which they operate. In Ghana, existing laws and regulations do not preclude businesses from such violations. This makes it important to reflect on innovative means including soft laws which could encourage companies operating in the EI in Ghana to respect women’s human rights and the environment over and above compliance with national laws and regulations. This thesis examines the problem of land grabbing by EI companies operating in Ghana, the unique negative impacts women in mining communities face as a …


The Regulation Of Heavy Fuel Oil In Arctic Shipping: Interests, Measures, And Impacts, Jiayu Bai, Aldo Chircop Jan 2020

The Regulation Of Heavy Fuel Oil In Arctic Shipping: Interests, Measures, And Impacts, Jiayu Bai, Aldo Chircop

Articles, Book Chapters, & Popular Press

Since the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) ban on the use and carriage for use of heavy fuel oil (HFO) for ships operating in Antarctic waters came into effect in 2011, the international community has been engaged in a discourse on whether to adopt a similar standard for ships operating in Arctic waters. The issues are complex as, in addition to reducing the environmental risks posed by HFOs, there are economic and social consequences, including dependence on such fuels by Indigenous peoples. The discourse has involved the IMO, the Arctic Council, industry associations, environmental nongovernmental organizations, and Indigenous peoples. The issue …


Submission: 2018 Legislative Review Of Export Development Canada, Sara Seck, Keith Macmaster, Penelope Simons Nov 2018

Submission: 2018 Legislative Review Of Export Development Canada, Sara Seck, Keith Macmaster, Penelope Simons

Articles, Book Chapters, & Popular Press

This submission to the 2018 review of Export Development Canada is informed in part by a conference and policy meeting that we hosted in October 2017 on the subject of extractive industries and the human rights of women and girls, at the Human Rights Resource Education Centre in Ottawa. This submission will reflect on some of the insights that emerged from the conference and policy meeting, as well as our own prior and subsequent research. Our submission will focus primarily on Theme 5: Corporate Social Responsibility and Human Rights, which asks whether, in fulfilling its mandate, EDC reflects the expectations …


Climate Change, Corporate Social Responsibility, And The Extractive Industries, Sara Seck Jan 2018

Climate Change, Corporate Social Responsibility, And The Extractive Industries, Sara Seck

Articles, Book Chapters, & Popular Press

During the negotiation of the Paris Agreement, many argued that the final text should integrate a human rights approach so as to better align climate governance under the UNFCCC with climate justice. Reference to human rights ultimately appeared only in the Preamble, despite submissions from the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights that urgent and ambitious State action to combat climate change is an existing duty of international human rights law. Another submission highlighted the role of businesses as duty-bearers who must contribute to climate mitigation and be accountable for climate impacts. This article will consider an unexplored avenue through …


Human Rights And Extractive Industries: Environmental Law And Standards, Sara Seck Jan 2016

Human Rights And Extractive Industries: Environmental Law And Standards, Sara Seck

Articles, Book Chapters, & Popular Press

The importance of environmental laws and standards for sustainable development of extractive industries has been well recognized by the international community for decades. More recently, the relationship between human rights and environmental protection has received greater attention in light of increased global and local recognition of both substantive and procedural environmental rights. Extractive industries search for, discover and develop natural resources in countries in which the governmental and civil society institutions necessary to protect human rights may not exist or where governments lack the capacity or will to effectively ensure the protection of human rights. Allegations of human rights violations …


Review Of The Governance Gap: Extractive Industries, Human Rights, And The Home State Advantage By Penelope Simons And Audrey Macklin, Sara Seck Jan 2015

Review Of The Governance Gap: Extractive Industries, Human Rights, And The Home State Advantage By Penelope Simons And Audrey Macklin, Sara Seck

Articles, Book Chapters, & Popular Press

The Governance Gap is a long-awaited contribution to the literature, advocating a stronger role for home state governments in the regulation of extractive companies operating abroad. Tis book arises from the experience of the authors as members of the Harker Commission on human security in the Sudan in the late 1990s.3 Written by Penelope Simons4 and Audrey Macklin,5 Te Governance Gap provides a detailed case study of Canadian company Talisman Energy Inc. and its operations in the Sudan between 1998 and 2003—a period during which the Sudan was “in the midst of a violent civil war” and Talisman was operating …


Confidential Information And Governments: Balancing The Public's Right To Access Government Records And An Oil And Gas Company's Right To Protect Confidential Information, Stephen Burns, Todd Newhook, Sébastien Gittens Apr 2014

Confidential Information And Governments: Balancing The Public's Right To Access Government Records And An Oil And Gas Company's Right To Protect Confidential Information, Stephen Burns, Todd Newhook, Sébastien Gittens

Dalhousie Law Journal

This paper explores the relationship between the public's right to access records in the custody or under the control of the government with the oil and gas industry's need to protect its confidential information from disclosure. Focusing on practical issues, the authors review the law of confidence, the structure of the access to information legislation and related case law, the public policy considerations supporting same, and some of the risks and pitfalls that organizations can avoid if they consider such legislation when interacting with public bodies.


Deepwater Horizon: Lessons For The Offshore, Wiley Spicer Apr 2014

Deepwater Horizon: Lessons For The Offshore, Wiley Spicer

Dalhousie Law Journal

This paper reviews the regulatory framework governing offshore oil and gas operations on the continental shelf. Offshore exploration comprises both marine and industrial elements, regulated through a complex web of national (coastal state) regulation and international conventions, the latter primarily directed towards the marine aspects of operations. Following the Deepwater Horizon disaster of 2010, the adequacy of current regulatory approaches came under increased scrutiny It is argued in this paper that the growing complexity of the industry, coupled with increasing activity in deepwater and Arctic environments, requires development of a more robust system of international regulation.


The Land Tenure System In The Newfoundland And Labrador Offshore Regulatory Regime: Review, Analysis And Current Issues, Alexander Macdonald, Nick Crosbie Apr 2014

The Land Tenure System In The Newfoundland And Labrador Offshore Regulatory Regime: Review, Analysis And Current Issues, Alexander Macdonald, Nick Crosbie

Dalhousie Law Journal

The development of an offshore oiland gas industry in the Gulf ofSt. Lawrence has created, for the first time, the potential for interactions between the Newfoundland and Labrador offshore regulatory regime and other regimes (either the new regime in Quebec or the National Energy Board). As industry participants evaluate where they will spend their exploration dollars, they will need to understand the various regulatory regimes in place. Land tenure in Newfoundland and Labrador is similar to the regime in places subject to the jurisdiction of the National Energy Board. Over the past 25 years, however the decisions of the courts …


Foreword, Phillip Saunders Apr 2014

Foreword, Phillip Saunders

Dalhousie Law Journal

This special edition of the Dalhousie Law Journal includes selected papers from the 4th East Coast Seminar of the Canadian Energy Law Foundation. The scope and depth ofthe articles which follow demonstrate the growing maturity ofthe East Coast Energy sector, both inthe refinement and further definition of the offshore exploration and exploitation regimes that were the focus ofthe 1st East Coast Seminar in 2000, and the increasing relevance of government and industry interest in land-based hydrocarbons as well as alternative energy sources such as wind and tidal power. This collection reflects the importance of these developments, and also extends to …


Onshore Oil And Gas Regimes In Atlantic Canada:, Michael P. Simms, Carole Chan Apr 2014

Onshore Oil And Gas Regimes In Atlantic Canada:, Michael P. Simms, Carole Chan

Dalhousie Law Journal

The focus ofoiland gas development in the Atlantic region has for many years been on the offshore areas. However, there is active exploration and some production onshore, and it is likely that interest and investment will increase in this sector in coming years. This paper considers the legislative regimes for onshore oil and gas development in the Atlantic provinces-including tenure arrangements, surface access issues, operational regulation, pooling and unitization provisions, royalties and abandonment and liability-with comparisons to schemes applicable in western Canada. The existing legislative regimes in the Atlantic region date back many years, and are likely to be the …


Developments. In Newfoundland And Labrador Offshore Royalties: From Hibernia To Hebron And Back, R J. Thrasher, Simon Baines Apr 2014

Developments. In Newfoundland And Labrador Offshore Royalties: From Hibernia To Hebron And Back, R J. Thrasher, Simon Baines

Dalhousie Law Journal

This paper traces the historical development of the offshore oil and gas royalty regime for Newfoundland and Labrador, from the first negotiated private royalty agreement for the Hibernia project, through the application of both generic and project-specific regulatory schemes applicable to later projects, up to the Hibernia Southern Expansion. The variations in key provisions across the six major projects are reviewed, with regard to royalty structures, transportation cost eligibility, cost and production allocation, dispute settlement and legislative stability clauses. Finally, the prospect for application of innovations and solutions developed to date to future projects is considered.


Report Of The Nova Scotia Independent Panel On Hydraulic Fracturing, Frank Atherton, Michael Bradfield, Kevin Christmas, Shawn Dalton, Maurice Dusseault, Graham Gagnon, Brad Hayes, Constance Macintosh, Ian Mauro, Ray Ritcey Jan 2014

Report Of The Nova Scotia Independent Panel On Hydraulic Fracturing, Frank Atherton, Michael Bradfield, Kevin Christmas, Shawn Dalton, Maurice Dusseault, Graham Gagnon, Brad Hayes, Constance Macintosh, Ian Mauro, Ray Ritcey

Reports & Public Policy Documents

On August 28, 2013, the Province of Nova Scotia and the Nova Scotia Department of Energy signed an agreement with the Verschuren Centre for Sustainability in Energy and the Environment at Cape Breton University to conduct an external review on the environmental, socio-economic, and health impacts of hydraulic fracturing. Simultaneously, Dr. David Wheeler, President and Vice Chancellor of Cape Breton University, was asked to convene and Chair the review and expert panel on a voluntary and unpaid basis.1 The mandate for the review was to: create a panel of technical experts based on input from the public and hire technical …


Home State Responsibility And Local Communities: The Case Of Global Mining, Sara Seck Jan 2008

Home State Responsibility And Local Communities: The Case Of Global Mining, Sara Seck

Articles, Book Chapters, & Popular Press

Home states that are actively engaged in global mining have considered and rejected calls to regulate the conduct of transnational mining corporations so as to prevent and remedy human rights and environmental harms. This reluctance to regulate is often expressed as a concern that extraterritorial regulation will conflict with the sovereignty of foreign states. This paper argues that the public international law of jurisdiction is permissive of home state regulation that can be justified under the nationality or territoriality principles, provided that there is no true conflict with an exercise of host state jurisdiction. In the human rights and environment …


Home State Responsibility And Local Communities: The Case Of Global Mining, Sara L. Seck Jan 2008

Home State Responsibility And Local Communities: The Case Of Global Mining, Sara L. Seck

Articles, Book Chapters, & Popular Press

Home states that are actively engaged in global mining have considered and rejected calls to regulate the conduct of transnational mining corporations so as to prevent and remedy human rights and environmental harms. This reluctance to regulate is often expressed as a concern that extraterritorial regulation will conflict with the sovereignty of foreign states. This paper argues that the public international law of jurisdiction is permissive of home state regulation that can be justified under the nationality or territoriality principles, provided that there is no true conflict with an exercise of host state jurisdiction. In the human rights and environment …


The Implications Of Unclos For Canada's Regulatory Jurisdiction In The Offshore-The 200-Mile Limit And The Continental Shelf, Keith F. Miller Oct 2007

The Implications Of Unclos For Canada's Regulatory Jurisdiction In The Offshore-The 200-Mile Limit And The Continental Shelf, Keith F. Miller

Dalhousie Law Journal

The author examines the current state of international law governing Canada's sovereignty and jurisdiction over the exploitation of hydrocarbons within its continental shelf. These rights are reviewed from a historical perspective through theprogression ofinternational conventions, the decisions ofinternational tribunals and the enactmentof Canadian federal laws. The article includes anexamination of Canada's rights under international law respecting its 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone and the continental shelf beyond, as well as a review of Canada's maritime boundary disputes with adjacent coastal states.


Creative Sentencing, Restorative Justice And Environmental Law: Responding To The Terra Nova Fpso Oil Spill, Cecily Y. Strickland, Scott Miller Oct 2007

Creative Sentencing, Restorative Justice And Environmental Law: Responding To The Terra Nova Fpso Oil Spill, Cecily Y. Strickland, Scott Miller

Dalhousie Law Journal

On 20 November 2004 the Terra Nova FPSO inadvertently discharged 165n3 of oily water into the surrounding waters of the Newfoundland and Labrador offshore area. Petro-Canada was charged with having caused a spill and thereby committing an offence pursuant to the Canada-Newfoundland Atlantic Accord Implementation Act. This was the first charge of its type arising from offshore oil and gas operations on the east coast of Canada. The authors provide a factual overview of the incident and identify some resultant legal issues, including the application of creative sentencing and the use of probation orders.


Fallow Fields Initiatives And Canada's East Coast Offshore: Policy And Legal Considerations, Raymond E. Quesnel Oct 2007

Fallow Fields Initiatives And Canada's East Coast Offshore: Policy And Legal Considerations, Raymond E. Quesnel

Dalhousie Law Journal

The author examines various approaches adopted by government to balance the state's interest in promoting the timely and efficient exploration and development of oil and gas resources under state jurisdiction and industry's need for legal regimes providingsecurityoftenure and other conditions necessary for commercial success. In particular, the paper considers fallow field initiatives adopted by the United Kingdom in respect of the North Sea and their possible application to government's management of oil and gas resources in the Canadian east coast offshore areas, addressing applicable policy considerations, the legislative history of the statutory frameworks in place, and relatedjurisprudence.


Anatomy Of A Liquefied Natural Gas Receiving Terminal In Atlantic Canada-An Overview Of The Legal And Regulatory Hurdles, A David Seely, Alexander Macdonald Oct 2007

Anatomy Of A Liquefied Natural Gas Receiving Terminal In Atlantic Canada-An Overview Of The Legal And Regulatory Hurdles, A David Seely, Alexander Macdonald

Dalhousie Law Journal

A new industry is developing in Canada due to recent studies indicating that demand for liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply in Canada and the U.S. is on the rise. As a result, the construction stage has begun for a number of proposed LNG receiving terminals in and around Atlantic Canada. The authors provide an overview of the current issues facing these LNG projects, such as their impact on fisheries, the environment, and Aboriginal rights. They discuss the regulatory framework governing these areas, the due diligence required to identify and address areas of concern, some commercial issues and safety and security …


The Accord Acts Twenty Years Later, Shawn Denstedt, R J. Thrasher Oct 2007

The Accord Acts Twenty Years Later, Shawn Denstedt, R J. Thrasher

Dalhousie Law Journal

The authors examine key provisions of the Accord Acts and the experience with them to date, and make comparisons with other jurisdictions. They address regulatory issues, such as the resource conservation powers of the Boards, the relationship between the Boards and other agencies, and the relative success of regulation streamlining efforts. Finally,they consider exploration and development matters and commercial issues such as flow-testing of exploration wells, benefits, royalty agreements, Board guidelines, disclosure of information, and conditions or requirements attached by the Boards to authorizations.


Aboriginal Rights.And The Atlantic Canada Petroleum Industry, David Reid, Stephanie Hickman Oct 2007

Aboriginal Rights.And The Atlantic Canada Petroleum Industry, David Reid, Stephanie Hickman

Dalhousie Law Journal

The authors explore the recent developments in Aboriginal law and their implications for the petroleum industry in Atlantic Canada. To set the stage, they provide a brief historical overview of Aboriginal settlement and land-use in the region, followed by a brief review of the petroleum industry's development in Atlantic Canada. After examining the state of the jurisprudence relating to Aboriginal rights generally,the authors turn to the current state of aboriginalrights, rights claims, and consultation obligations in the Atlantic Canadian context. The impact of the current state of the law on the petroleum industry is then analyzed and future trends outlined.


Regulatory Issues Concerning Encana's Deep Panuke Project, Robert G. Grant Oct 2007

Regulatory Issues Concerning Encana's Deep Panuke Project, Robert G. Grant

Dalhousie Law Journal

EnCana is proposing to develop the second gas producing project in the Scotian Shelf, the Deep Panuke Project. The author examines modifications to the Project from that initially proposed in 2002, the use of the previously approved Comprehensive Study Report, and the procedure for public review and approval. The author will also discuss major issues identified during the public hearing, held before a member of the NEB and the Commissioner appointed by the C-NSOPB, including EnCana's alternative options for carrying out the project, consultation with the Aboriginal communities, Canada-Nova Scotia benefits matters, consultation and engagement with the fishing industry, and …


The Confidentiality Of Seismic Data, Michael P. Simms, Van Penick Oct 2007

The Confidentiality Of Seismic Data, Michael P. Simms, Van Penick

Dalhousie Law Journal

The authors review the common law, common contractual language and statutory law relating to the confidentiality of seismic information. The extent of the rights of the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador and Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Boards to receive, use and make seismic data public is considered in light of freedom of information and protection of privacy legislation. The authors discuss the different treatment of specified user and speculative seismic data, and explore copyright.


Aquaculture Law And Policy In Canada And The Duty To Consult With Aboriginal Peoples, Richard Devlin, Ronalda Murphy Jan 2006

Aquaculture Law And Policy In Canada And The Duty To Consult With Aboriginal Peoples, Richard Devlin, Ronalda Murphy

Articles, Book Chapters, & Popular Press

In November 2003, a Mi’kmaq elder from the community of Eskasoni launched a court action seeking to stop seismic testing in the waters off Cape Breton. He claimed that the government of Nova Scotia had failed to consult with his First Nation before issuing an approval to allow the testing by Corridor Resources, as part of its oil and gas exploration program.1 Aboriginal communities throughout Canada assert they must be consulted before governments or corporations make decisions that could impair the constitutional rights of Aboriginal peoples. Invocation of the duty to consult as an independent source of legal entitlement is …


Occupational Health And Safety: The New Regime For The East Coast Offshore, Susan E. Gover Oct 2003

Occupational Health And Safety: The New Regime For The East Coast Offshore, Susan E. Gover

Dalhousie Law Journal

The Governments of Canada, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland and Labrador are moving to enshrine existing offshore occupational health and safety (OHS) practices into the Atlantic Accord legislation governing the regulation of petroleum-related activity off the eastern coast of Canada. The proposed OHS amendments discussed in this paper are intended to provide a comprehensive legal framework to achieve the same kind of protection for offshore workers that onshore workers currently enjoy. Application of occupational health and safety laws in the offshore will be clarified so that these amendments, and not other federal or provincial OHS laws, will apply to any workplace …


Offshore Seismic And Fisheries And Environmental Issues - How Can They Be Reconciled?: A Case Study On The Public Review On The Effects Of Potential Oil And Gas Exploration Offshore Cape Breton, David Macdougall Oct 2003

Offshore Seismic And Fisheries And Environmental Issues - How Can They Be Reconciled?: A Case Study On The Public Review On The Effects Of Potential Oil And Gas Exploration Offshore Cape Breton, David Macdougall

Dalhousie Law Journal

The author describes the review process preceding the 2003 CNSOPB decision which permitted seismic activities offshore of Cape Breton. The process included a public review conducted by Commissioner Dr. Teresa MacNeil and the subsequent establishment of an Ad Hoc Working Group (part of the CNSOPB's existing Fisheries and Environment Advisory Committee (FEAC)) and a Science Working Group reporting to the Ad Hoc Working Group. In the author's view, the Ad Hoc Working Group arrived at the anticipated result; that is, continued disagreement among the opposing parties on the fundamental issues. Consequently CNSOPB was left with the decision on how to …


Union Certification On Offshore Production Installations, Gregory Anthony Oct 2003

Union Certification On Offshore Production Installations, Gregory Anthony

Dalhousie Law Journal

The author describes the jurisdictional and legislative regimes governing labour relations in the Newfoundland and Labrador offshore. After providing an overview of the provincial certification process, he recounts the process of certification of the Hibernia platform and reviews some of the legal issues raised therefrom.