Law on Pollution and Debris from Oil and Gas Drilling and Production Operations Offshore Nova Scotia

Author

Boris B. De Jonge

Date of Award

1998

Document Type

Thesis

Abstract

This thesis examines international and domestic law relating to pollution from offshore oil and gas operations in the Nova Scotia offshore area. The domestic regulatory regime is not integrated, but is contained in various acts. The three main acts deal respectively with ships, including mobile offshore drilling and production units (the 'Canada Shipping Act'); fisheries protection (the 'Fisheries Act'); and the industrial aspects of offshore oil and gas operations (the federal 'Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Resources Accord Implementation Act'; there is a corresponding provincial act which is essentially identical). These acts are administered by separate regulatory agencies. This results in inefficiency and uncertainty for industry, duplication of administrative effort and the potential for inconsistencies in regulatory approach. A comprehensive statutory regime is in place with respect to responsibility and compensation for pollution damage. Although there is presently no global conventional law dealing specifically with pollution from offshore oil and gas operations, there are general obligations under international customary law and the 1982 'Law of the Sea Convention'.

Recommended Citation

Boris B. De Jonge, Law on Pollution and Debris from Oil and Gas Drilling and Production Operations Offshore Nova Scotia (LLM Thesis, Dalhousie University, 1998) [unpublished].