Arctic drilling review seeks public input

Canada's energy regulator wants to hear from the publicforits upcoming review of Arctic offshore drilling, as it explores what safety and environmental rules are needed for drilling to take place.

The National Energy Board, which regulates offshore drilling in Canada's Arctic, announced late last week that it is inviting the public to take part in its review of drilling requirements.

Companies like BP, Chevron, Imperial Oil and ConocoPhillips have paid billionsof dollars for oil and gas leases in parts ofthe Beaufort Sea, butthe companies must get NEB approval before they can start drilling.

Among other things, the National Energy Board's review will look at what information a company will have to provide before it is allowed to drill an offshore well in the Arctic.

It will also look at how to drill safely in the Arctic environment, as well as how to respond to accidents and emergencies when they happen.

Lessons from Gulf of Mexico spill

The review will also ask what lessons can be learned from major spills like BP's oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and how those lessons can apply to northern drilling.

It may be a while before the public knows what can be learned from the Gulf of Mexico spill, but National Energy Board officials said they are being proactive by planning a public review now.

"It takes a while to set up a broad review of this nature and we wanted to take advantage of this lead time to get things ready to go, so when that information is available, we are ready to discuss it with both industry and the public," Scott Gedak, the NEB's project manager for the Arctic offshore drilling review, told CBC News.

Gedak said the review will likely be a combination of community sessions and technical workshops.

Hold hearings in North: MP

A location for review hearings has not yet been decided, but Western Arctic NDP MP Dennis Bevington said they should take place in the North.

"They don't provide a lot of intervener funding at the National Energy Board level. So if they don't provide that, then it's going to be really difficult for many northerners to participate in this review," Bevington said.

"I'd like to see them have some hearings in the North, where different groups can keep their costs down and individuals can participate."

The public has until July 16 to register for participation in the NEB's review.