GOC DIPNOTE ON BEAUFORT SEA DEMARCHE

UNCLAS OTTAWA 000595

SIPDIS

STATE FOR OES/OA (RWSMITH),EB/ESC (MCMANUS AND ERVITI),
WHA/CAN (MASON AND RUNNING)

DOE FOR I/A (A/S BAILEY AND KATHLEEN DEUTSCH)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHSA PBTS PREL ENRG SENV CA
SUBJECT: GOC DIPNOTE ON BEAUFORT SEA DEMARCHE

REFTEL: A) STATE 43993; B) OTTAWA 0487

ON MARCH 3, EMBASSY RECEIVED DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN
AFFAIRS AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE DIPNOTE NUMBER JLO0041 OF
FEBRUARY 27, 2003, RESPONDING TO OUR DEMARCHE AND DIPNOTE
(REFTELS) NUMBER 169 OF FEBRUARY 18, 2003, PERTAINING TO
FEDERAL REGISTER NOTIFICATION OF LEASE SALES IN THE
BEAUFORT SEA. WE WILL MAIL A COPY OF THE CANADIAN
DIPNOTE TO ROBERT SMITH IN STATE OES/OA. THE TEXT OF THE
CANADIAN DIPNOTE IS AS FOLLOWS:

"NOTE NO. JLO0041

THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE
PRESENTS ITS COMPLIMENTS TO THE EMBASSY OF THE UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA AND HAS THE HONOUR TO REFER:

(A) TO THE EMBASSY'S DIPLOMATIC NOTE NO. 169 OF 18
FEBRUARY 2003; AND

(B) TO THE PUBLICATION IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER VOL. 68,
NO. 34 OF 20 FEBRUARY 2003 BY THE MINERALS MANAGEMENT
SERVICE OF THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
OF A NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY CONCERNING THE PROPOSED
NOTICE OF SALE FOR PROPOSED OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF OIL
AND GAS LEASE SALE 186 IN THE BEAUFORT SEA WHICH IS
TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED TO BE UNDERTAKEN ON 24 SEPTEMBER

2003.

THE EMBASSY HAS THE FURTHER HONOUR TO INFORM THE EMBASSY
THAT:

(A) CANADA NOTES WITH CONCERN THAT THE AREAS COVERED BY
THE PROPOSED LEASE SALE IN THE BEAUFORT SEA EXTEND
EASTWARD OF THE 141ST MERIDIAN ON LONGITUDE AND,
THEREFORE, INTO AN AREA OF THE TERRITORIAL SEA, EXCLUSIVE
ECONOMIC ZONE AND CONTINENTAL SHELF OF CANADA OVER WHICH
CANADA EXERCISES EXCLUSIVE SOVEREIGN RIGHTS IN RESPECT OF
THE NATURAL RESOURCES OF THE SEABED AND SUBSOPIL;

(B) CANADA ALSO NOTES WITH CONCERN THAT THE MAP PUBLISHED
BY THE MINERALS MANAGEMENT SERVICE OF THE UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR ON 8 JANUARY 2003 DEPICTS
PROPOSED OIL AND GAS LEASE AREAS WHICH EXTEND EASTWARD OF
THE 141ST MERIDIAN OF LONGITUDE AND/OR SHOW THE MARITIME
BOUNDARY BETWEEN CANADA AND THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
AS LYING EASTWARD OF THE 141ST MERIDIAN OF LONGITUDE;
AND,


(C) CANADA REJECTS ANY PURPORTED EXERCISE OF JURISDICTION
BY THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA OR THE
STATE OF ALASKA OVER THAT PART OF THE SEABED, WATER
COLUMN OR NATURAL RESOURCES THEREOF, IN THE BEAUFORT SEA
REGION EAST OF THE 141ST MERIDIAN OF LONGITUDE AND DOES
NOT ACQUIESCE IN ANY MEASURE TAKEN BY THE GOVERNMENT OF
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA OR BY THE STATE OF ALASKA
WHICH WOULD INFRINGE UPON CANADIAN SOVEREIGNTY OR
SOVEREIGN RIGHTS IN THIS AREA.

THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE
AVAILS ITSELF OF THIS OPPORTUNITY TO RENEW TO THE EMBASSY
OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA THE ASSURANCES OF ITS
HIGHEST CONSIDERATION.

OTTAWA, 27 FEBRUARY 2003." CELLUCCI