Notice of Application
EPEA Application No. 013-00149968
WA Application No. 026-00201931
Canadian Natural Resources Limited
Horizon Oil Sands Mine
The Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) has received Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act (EPEA) application 013-00149968 and Water Act (WA) application 026-00201931 from Canadian Natural Resources Limited (CNRL) for amendments to existing approvals for the Horizon Oil Sands Mine.
This notice sets out the deadline for filing a statement of concern on any of these applications. See the section below on how to file a statement of concern for filing dates.
Description of the Applications
CNRL has applied to amend EPEA approval 00149968-01-01 and WA approval 00201931-01-01 to conduct a ten-day pilot, proposed for the third quarter of 2018, for the release of basal water from the Horizon Oil Sands Mine to the Athabasca River. The proposed location of the temporary outfall is beside CNRL’s existing river-water intake in Legal Subdivision 4, Section 14, Township 96, Range 11, West of the 4th Meridian.
CNRL is planning the short-term pilot to evaluate the performance of the water release system and the impacts of the release of basal water to the Athabasca River. Basal water is naturally occurring groundwater that is under pressure in the aquifer below the oil sands mine pit. Depressurization of basal water is required for surface mining operations and ensures effective, efficient, and safe mining.
This integrated application includes details of the basal-water chemistry; a description of water quality models used to predict water quality in the Athabasca River during the pilot release; CNRL’s plan for the pilot release; proposed mitigation and monitoring; the regulatory requirements; and CNRL’s plans for indigenous community engagement. Pending the results of the pilot, CNRL might prepare a separate application for full-scale release of basal water to the Athabasca River.
For a copy of the applications, contact
Canadian Natural Resources
Suite 2100, 855 – 2nd Street SW
Calgary, Alberta T2P 4J8
Attention: Jon Gareau, Environmental Coordinator, Projects and Approvals
Telephone: 403-517-7153
Fax: 403-517-7350
Email: jon.gareau@cnrl.com
Or, to receive a copy of the application and supporting documents, submit an information request, as outlined at www1.aer.ca/ProductCatalogue/ordering.html, to
AER Order Fulfillment
Suite 1000, 250 – 5 Street SW
Calgary, Alberta T2P 0R4
Telephone: 1-855-297-8311 (toll free; option 0)
Fax: 403-297-7040
Email: InformationRequest@aer.ca
Refer to this notice when requesting information for a faster response.
Requirement to File a Statement of Concern, contact
If you have concerns with these applications, you must file a statement of concern as described below. If you do not file a statement of concern, the AER may approve the applications without further notification.
How to File a Statement of Concern
For your submission to be considered a valid statement of concern, it must be filed before 4:00 p.m. on June 11, 2018. Send one copy of your statement of concern to Canadian Natural Resources Limited at the name and address above and one copy to
Authorizations Branch
Alberta Energy Regulator
Suite 1000, 250 – 5 Street SW
Calgary, Alberta T2P 0R4
Fax: 403-297-7336
Email: SOC@aer.ca
Contents of a Statement of Concern
For your submission to be considered a valid statement of concern, it must include
- why you believe you may be directly and adversely affected by a decision of the AER on the applications;
- the nature of your objection to the applications;
- the outcome of the applications you advocate;
- the location of your land, residence, or activity in relation to the location of the energy resource that is the subject of the applications; and
- your contact information, including your name, address in Alberta, telephone number, and email address or, if you do not have an email address, your fax number.
The AER also requests that you include the application number in your statement of concern.
Confidentiality Section 49 of the Alberta Energy Regulator Rules of Practice (Rules of Practice) requires that all documents and information filed in a proceeding be placed on the public record. If you file a submission, you must not include any personal information that you do not want to appear on or are not authorized to put on the public record. Section 49(2) of the Rules of Practice states how to apply to the AER for an order to keep information confidential. The Rules of Practice is available on the AER website at www.aer.ca.
Jurisdiction
Submissions relating exclusively to compensation for land use are not dealt with by the AER and should be referred to the Alberta Surface Rights Board.
Under section 21 of the Responsible Energy Development Act, the AER does not have the jurisdiction to assess the adequacy of Crown consultation associated with the rights of aboriginal peoples as recognized and affirmed under the Constitution Act, 1982.
For information on AER procedures, contact the authorizations specialist, Doug Koroluk, by phone at 403-297-6306 or by email to doug.koroluk@aer.ca
Issued at Calgary, Alberta, on May 10, 2018.
ALBERTA ENERGY REGULATOR
Patricia M. Johnston, Q.C., General Counsel
