Pierre River Mine Project

WATER ERCB SIRS 46 – 79
• risk management
Section 7.1
Request 46b What would be Shell alternatives to the End Pit Lakes as a final sustainable
solution in highlight of the new draft review report submitted to CEMA entitled
“Synthesis of Reviewer Comments on the CEMA End Pit Lake Technical
Guidance Document, May 2009”?
Response 46b Alternatives to pit lakes are described in the response to SIR 312b in the May
2009 Pierre River Mine, Supplemental Information, Volume 1, Section 13.
Question No. 47
Request Volume 1, Section 13.1, Page 13-9, Supplemental Information Responses.
Shell states, “Shell will have a physical test pit lake in place by, or before,
2018.” Shell also states, “Over time, they [EPLs] will become self-sustaining
habitat for local vegetation, invertebrates and fish.”
47a Will Shell independently demonstrate the efficacy of EPLs by, or before, 2018? If
not, provide sound reasons for not complying with the approval condition.
Response 47a In the response to SIR 312f in the May 2009 Pierre River Mine, Supplemental
Information, Volume 1, Shell stated:
Shell will have a physical test pit lake in place by, or before, 2018. In accordance
with the ERCB’s conditions for approval of the Muskeg River Mine Expansion
and the existing and expected EPEA approvals, this test pit lake work might be
carried out by Shell or through a multi-stakeholder group that Shell
cooperatively funds, such as CEMA or CONRAD.
To clarify, Shell will be participating in research on the Syncrude Base Mine
Lake through the multi-stakeholder groups that Shell cooperatively funds.
Demonstration research is scheduled to begin in 2012 when the lake will no
longer be operated as a tailings pond.
Shell’s operating mines are still early in their development and Shell will not
have any end pits available for research by 2018. Shell currently has no other
plans for research on a demonstration end pit lake. However, Shell will continue
to participate in joint industry and government research, as outlined previously in
the response to ERCB SIR 46.
7-2 Shell Canada Limited April 2010
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