Pierre River Mine Project

WATER ERCB SIRS 46 – 79
Section 7.1
Request 71d Discuss the cumulative impacts to the groundwater quality during the life cycle
of the operation.
Response 71d Cumulative impacts to groundwater quality during the life cycle of the operation
are assessed in EIA, Volume 4A, Sections 6.3.5 to 6.3.7.
Question No. 72
Request Volume 4A, Section 6.1.4, Page 6-368.
Shell states, “The high background concentrations of these metals are
characteristic of natural surface waters in the Oil Sands Region.”
72a Provide references for this statement.
Response 72a The statement cited indicates that the noted metals occur in natural surface waters
in the Oil Sands Region at concentrations that exceed ambient water quality
guideline values. Examples of where such concentrations have been exceeded
and documented include:
References
• regional baseline data compiled by the Regional Aquatics Monitoring
Program (RAMP 2006)
• analytical results from water samples collected from natural surface waters
by Alberta Environment (AENV 2006)
• in environmental settings reports for the Pierre River Mine Project (Golder
2007)
• in applications by other oil sands operators (Golder 2005)
AENV (Alberta Environment). 2006. Water Data System (WDS). Environmental
Service, Environmental Services Division. Edmonton, AB.
Golder (Golder Associates Ltd.). 2005. Water Quality Environmental Setting
Report for the Suncor Voyageur Project. Prepared for Suncor Energy Inc.
March 2005. Calgary, AB.
Golder. 2007. Surface Water Quality Environmental Setting for the Jackpine
Mine Expansion and Pierre River Mine Project. Submitted to Shell
Canada Limited.
RAMP (Regional Aquatics Monitoring Program). 2006. Regional Aquatics
Monitoring Program (RAMP) 2005 Technical Report. Prepared for the
RAMP Steering Committee. Submitted by the RAMP 2005
April 2010 Shell Canada Limited 7-25
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