April 30, 2003 For Immediate Release

The University of Northern British Columbia has received a total of 38 proposals as the result of a public request for research concerning offshore oil and gas.

The proposals are centered around four different themes:

- Identifying special and sensitive areas in the Queen Charlotte Basin

- Assessing community and socioeconomic implications of oil and gas

- Gauging the health of marine ecosystems in the Queen Charlotte Basin

- Establishing a system for sharing information about offshore issues

"The response to the call for research proposals has been impressive and teams have included university faculty, consultants, and community members," says Norman Dale, Project Manager. "We were especially gratified with the keen interest from communities all along the central and north coasts and from Haida Gwaii."

It's expected that the successful proposals will be selected in May, with research beginning this summer.

The Northern Coastal Information and Research Program (NCIRP) is part of the University's Northern Land Use Institute. The NCIRP has a particular mandate to conduct research and provide information about offshore oil and gas exploration and development.