Pierre River Mine Project

PIERRE RIVER MINE
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
PART 2: ERCB SIRS – ROUND 2
Question No. 46
WATER
ERCB SIRS 46 – 79
Section 7.1
Request Volume 1, Section 13.1, Page 13-6, Supplemental Information Responses.
Shell states, “Shell is confident in its capability of design and build successful pit
lakes, because key findings from CONRAD and CEMA research on wetlands,
experimental ponds and pit lakes will be incorporated into the analysis.”
46a CEMA’s End Pit Lake Technical Guidance Document (EPLTGD) was reviewed
by CH2MHILL. The reviewers rejected the document and provided
recommendations that should be considered in the 2012 EPLTGD update. What
is the time limit to incorporate CEMA’s key findings into Shell’s plans in order to
meet the 2018 deadline (i.e. proven efficacy of the demonstration lake)?
Response 46a The first three areas of research are the focus of work currently underway by
CEMA, CONRAD and the Oil Sands Tailings Research Facility, all of which are
supported by Shell. While the goal is to incorporate this research into the 2012
EPLTGD update, it is anticipated that this and related research will continue
beyond the 2012 update, and likely beyond 2018 as well.
CEMA’s End Pit Lake Technical Guidance Document (EPLTGD) was reviewed
by 12 experts in various fields, and their reviews were synthesized by
CH2MHILL. The draft review synthesis pointed to shortcomings with the CEMA
End Pit Lake Technical Guidance Document, but did not evaluate whether pit
lakes were a viable solution for remediation of oil sands mines.
Reviewers expressed opinions that oil sands pit lakes would require some level of
active treatment in conjunction with the planned passive treatment. Although
Shell is confident that pit lakes will function as planned, several active treatment
methods are available and could be used in the event that such technology is
deemed necessary (see the response to SIR 312 in the May 2009 Pierre River
Mine, Supplemental Information, Volume 1, Section 13).
The synthesis report pointed to four main areas of research that should be
addressed:
• the toxicity of naphthenic acids and other hydrocarbon contaminants
• lake modelling
• active management
April 2010 Shell Canada Limited 7-1
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