Pierre River Mine Project

WATER AENV SIRS 15 – 43
Question No. 36
Section 12.1
the revised estimate of the effects of hydrological drawdown on the Jackpine
Mine Expansion (see the December 2009 Jackpine Mine Expansion,
Supplemental Information, Volume 2, Part 4, Appendix B: Shell Jackpine Mine
Expansion & Pierre River Mine EIA Update in the Jackpine Mine Expansion
Project Update), the project applications for the Jackpine Mine Expansion and
the Pierre River Mine predict a loss of 20,967 ha (2%) of wetlands in the RSA.
The Jackpine Mine – Phase 1 predicted a loss of 3,783 ha of wetlands, which
reflects a less than 1% change in the RSA.
Request Volume 2, SIR 394a, Page 23-12.
Shell was asked to discuss the strategies they will implement if the wetland
monitoring program results show a major impact to the fen and other adjacent
wetlands. Shell states that the question is not applicable to the PRM.
36a Answer the SIR in the context of the PRM.
Response 36a The lenticular fen is located only within the Jackpine Mine Expansion local study
area (LSA); however other wetlands, including fens, bogs, swamps and marshes
are located in and adjacent to the Pierre River Mine LSA. These wetlands are
predicted to be affected by water drawdown as a result of dewatering and mining
operations in the Pierre River Mine LSA. Hydrology influences the physical and
chemical parameters in wetlands, which in turn influence the establishment and
maintenance of wetland types and wetland processes. Given the major role of
hydrology in wetlands function, changes in hydrology can affect aspects of
wetland ecology, such as water chemistry, vegetation species composition and
diversity (Thormann et al. 1998; Whitehouse and Bayley 2005; Locky and
Bayley 2006). A water level drawdown of more than 0.1 m may negatively affect
wetland structure and function.
A wetlands monitoring program will be implemented to monitor wetlands
vegetation during operations and after closure and reclamation. The wetlands
monitoring program will expand on the Albian Sands Wetlands Monitoring
Program, which has been ongoing since 2000 (Golder 2007). The main approach
to assess the potential effects of the project on wetlands will be to monitor
species abundance, richness, diversity and vigour according to plot distance from
the mine over the length of the monitoring program. The program will include
the collection of ecological field data and aerial photo interpretation. The EIA,
Appendix 5-6, “Terrestrial Monitoring Programs”, Section 4, page 8, describes
the general wetlands monitoring program that will be implemented to determine
potential change to wetlands associated with the project.
In addition, proposed monitoring of overburden dewatering is outlined in EIA,
Volume 4B, Appendix 4-9, Section 2.1.4.2. Groundwater levels will be
April 2010 Shell Canada Limited 12-53
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