Natural Resources committee  Moving forward?

Natural Resources committee  It includes that as a key element. It's the last line of defence, though. In the gulf right now, we already know that to finish that first relief well will take three months.

Natural Resources committee  Possibly.

Natural Resources committee  Dr. Dixit has specific answers for that, if you would allow him to answer the question.

Natural Resources committee  We haven't had a full-scale exercise where we simulated the NEB taking over an activity. As the time approaches for the potential for an application to be filed with us to possibly approve, with conditions, such an activity, the board would be ramping up its efforts, both in terms of desktop exercise and in-the-field exercise, to be ready.

Natural Resources committee  We have about 400 people working at the board. We have about 85 people whose career is directed towards safety, protection of the environment, and geophysics in the physical sites. In all cases their unique focus is to protect the public interest.

Natural Resources committee  Well, “robust” is defined by professional judgment and experience. Two weeks ago, I would have given you a different answer from what I'm giving you today. Today I would say I'm not so sure that blowout preventers can be relied upon the way they've been designed to date. That's why a goal-oriented regulation is far superior to a prescriptive one, because a prescriptive regulation would have said a blowout preventer should look like this.

Natural Resources committee  This is to come, sir. It will come as a result of the board reviewing what happened in the Gulf of Mexico and what we must learn from it and apply in Canada.

Natural Resources committee  The only timeframe I have, sir, is to let the Americans get on with the business of stopping the leak and protecting the shores and the environment, and after that, when we can get their attention, learn from them.

Natural Resources committee  We know well the people at the MMS, and we know that the thing they don't need right now is a call from Canada, from the NEB, asking what's going on. They would welcome a call of, yes, we're willing to help. Transport Canada is already helping with trying to identify the location of spills.

Natural Resources committee  We have a bunch of red phones that work all the time. People know each other, and it's easy to get information. It's remarkable how the best of human nature emerges when there is an emergency. Competitive behaviours and jurisdictions evaporate instantly. People want to help. We've seen that with Katrina and we're seeing that now.

Natural Resources committee  It was a well by Devon. It was an exploratory well in the Mackenzie Delta; approval was in 2004, and the activities were in 2005 and 2006. The well was Paktoa C-60.

Natural Resources committee  I missed the last question.

Natural Resources committee  No, we don't.

Natural Resources committee  No. We have to examine that in detail, with a technical focus based on evidence, based on the best technical expertise around the world, and we'll apply that to Canada when we find it. We do not have that today, sir.