Heads Up Newfie! U.S. Rocket Launch Threatens Hibernia

Missile launch spurs more concern in Nfld.

CTV.ca
April 9th, 2005

http://www.ctv.ca/archives/CTVNews/images/20050408/
nfld_missile_050408/160_grand_banks_gfx.jpg

St. John's, Nfld. — Newfoundland's offshore industry renewed preparations to evacuate oil platforms in the North Atlantic amid conflicting reports regarding U.S. plans to launch a rocket that could shed space junk in Canadian waters.

The Titan IV rocket was supposed to be launched Monday from Cape Canaveral, Fla., but it was delayed Thursday for technical reasons.

The U.S. State Department said Friday that the launch would go ahead April 13.
Canadian oil companies had hoped the U.S. Defence Department would change the planned flight path, because of concerns that a 10,000-kilogram spent rocket could fall within 25 kilometres of the Hibernia oil platform.

But the Air Force Space Command says the flight path remains the same.
"At this time, we have no plans to change the trajectory,'' said Masao Doi, a spokesman for U.S. Air Force Space Command at Cape Canaveral, Fla.

"Safety is a top priority for us and we do a thorough safety check on all of our boosters when we plot trajectories over international waters,'' Doi added.

Nevertheless, Simone Keough, spokeswoman for the Canada-Newfoundland Offshore Petroleum Board, says they are moving ahead with plans for an evacuation.

"The only thing that has changed in terms of our preparations is the date,'' she said Friday.

Premier Danny Williams is upset about the mixed messages. He says the province and the companies operating in the area need a 100 per cent guarantee there is no risk.
"The information I'm getting is inconsistent, coming from all kinds of sources. If Canada is going to represent us on interests like this which are international, then I expect a good stream of information, solid, consistent information to come to me as the head of a province."

Premier Danny Williams
"Somebody better get their act together."

Canadian officials could not clarify the situation.

Alex Swann, a spokesman for Deputy Prime Minister Anne McLellan, said senior government officials have been talking to the White House about the issue since Thursday.

"They are trying to get clarity on what their plans are and are expressing our concerns about the economic impact that this would have,'' said Swann.

"Obviously, we want to take up with the U.S. what the risk is going to be, as well.''
Doi says there is little chance of personal injury from impact.

If the oil companies have to shut down the 200,000-barrel-a-day Hibernia project, it could cost them tens of millions of dollars and shut down oil production for upwards of two weeks.

Partners in Hibernia include Petro-Canada, Exxon Mobil Corp., ChevronTexaco and Murphy Oil Corp.