"The panel, which reviewed Shell’s proposal to expand the Jackpine mine, recently decided to approve the project located about 70 km north of Fort McMurray. “The panel finds that the project would likely have significant adverse environmental effects on wetlands, traditional plant potential areas, wetland-reliant species at risk, migratory birds that are wetland-reliant or species at risk, and biodiversity,” said the JRP report. “There is also a lack of proposed mitigation measures that have been proven to be effective.” RICHARD GILBERT July 24, 2013 First Nations and environmental groups are disappointed and upset that the federal environmental regulator granted approval to Shell Canada Energy for the construction of the Jackpine Mine Expansion, even though the project will have significant negative effects. “We see from this approval that the JRP (Joint Review Panel) has prioritized oil industry profits before the health and well-being of our community and the environment. It’s truly appalling,” said Eriel Deranger, communication co-ordinator for the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation (ACFN). “First Nation and environmental rights shouldn’t take a back seat as the destruction of our homelands continues.” The panel, which reviewed Shell’s proposal to expand the Jackpine mine, recently decided to approve the project located about 70 km north of Fort McMurray. “The panel finds that the project would likely have significant adverse environmental effects on wetlands, traditional plant potential areas, wetland-reliant species at risk, migratory birds that are wetland-reliant or species at risk, and biodiversity,” said the JRP report. “There is also a lack of proposed mitigation measures that have been proven to be effective.” For First Nations and environmental groups, one of the most disturbing aspects about the decision is that the panel admitted the reality of many significant negative impacts and approved the project anyway. “Although the panel finds that there would be significant adverse project effects on certain wildlife and vegetation, under its authority as the AER (Alberta Energy Regulator), the panel considers these effects to be justified and that the project is in the public interest,” said the JRP’s report. The rationale used by the JRP to approve the expansion of the mine is that the project would provide significant economic benefits for the region, Alberta and Canada The expansion of the mine project involves the construction of additional mining areas, ore handling, conditioning, bitumen extraction facilities and a high-temperature froth treatment facility at the Phase 1 site. A new external tailings disposal area will be built and the main stem of the Muskeg river will be diverted for a 22 kilometre section. The total direct, indirect and induced employment impacts are estimated at 24,500 person-years over the project’s construction period. The expansion project would increase bitumen production by 100,000 barrels per day, bringing production at the mine to 300,000 barrels per day. “The joint review panel heard from Shell’s own analysis that this project, when added to other planned oilsands projects, will exceed science-based environmental limits for impacts to air quality, wildlife habitat and the Athabasca River — yet the panel recommended approval of the project anyway,” said Simon Dyer, policy director at the Pembina Institute. The review panel also concluded that the project, in combination with other existing, approved, and planned projects, would likely have significant adverse cumulative environmental effects on wetlands; traditional plant potential areas; old-growth forests; wetland-reliant species at risk and migratory birds; old-growth forest reliant species at risk and migratory birds; caribou; biodiversity; and Aboriginal traditional land use (TLU), rights, and culture. In response, the JRP has made 88 recommendations to the federal and provincial governments, which are important for the successful implementation of the project. The panel also set out 22 conditions for Shell. For example, the company will be required to conduct rigorous follow-up and monitoring on environmental effects of the project related to climate change predictions. The ACFN argued that the project violates their constitutional rights, threatens the health of their community and would destroy a section of the Muskeg River, which is a culturally significant waterway for their traditional practices. As a result, the ACFN is extremely critical of the decision not to require conditions in its approval that would adequately protect its rights and culture. journalofcommerce/article/id56278/--federal-regulator-approves-mine-expansion-despite-serious-environmental-concerns
Posted on: Thu, 25 Jul 2013 20:19:05 +0000
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