The Davis Strait:A preliminary strategic environmental impact assessment of hydrocarbon activities in the eastern Davis Strait

• Other Authors: Merkel, Flemming Ravn, Boertmann, David, Mosbech, Anders, Ugarte, Fernando
• Format: Book
• Language: English
• Published: Aarhus University, DCE - Danish Centre for Environment and Energy 2012
• Subjects: Davis Strait; Greenland; Greenland Institute of Natural Resources
• Online Access: https://pure.au.dk/portal/en/publications/84177916-5a16-43a1-8aed-1df74f232925; http://www.dmu.dk/Pub/SR15.pdf

The Bureau of Minerals and Petroleum (BMP) is planning for further exclusive licences for exploration and exploitation of hydrocarbons in the Greenland off shore areas of Davis Strait. To support the decision process BMP has asked DCE - Danish Centre for Environment and Energy and the Greenland Institute of Natural Resources (GINR) to prepare this preliminary Strategic Environmental Impact Assessment (SEIA) for the eastern Davis Strait between 62° and 67° N. Based on existing published and unpublished sources, including three previous assessment reports that were prepared in connection with the existing licence blocks, the SEIA describes the physical and biological environment including protected areas and threatened species, contaminent levels, and natural resource use. This description of the existing situation then forms the basis for assessment of the potential impacts of oil activities. If more licences are granted in the assessment area implementation of an environmental background study programme is planned to fi ll the data gaps that have been identifi ed and provide information required to support the environmental planning and regulation of the oil activities. The new information will be included in an updated SEIA, which will become the new reference document for the environmental work and substitute this preliminaryversion.