Pierre River Mine Project

WATER AENV SIRS 15 – 43
References
Question No. 37
Section 12.1
monitored semi-annually before mine development begins and then until the
mine pit is backfilled.
Should the wetlands or groundwater monitoring programs detect unexpected
effects on groundwater levels as a result of overburden dewatering, a
groundwater response plan (EIA, Volume 4B, Appendix 4-9, Section 2.1.5) will
be developed to assess and mitigate, if necessary, the impacts of dewatering on
the surrounding wetlands.
Golder. 2007. Muskeg River Mine, Wetlands Monitoring Program, 2005 Annual
Report. Prepared by Golder Associated Ltd. For Albian Sands Energy
Inc.
Locky, D.A., and S.E. Bayley. 2006. Plant Diversity, Composition, and Rarity in
the Southern Boreal Peatlands of Manitoba, Canada. Canadian Journal of
Botany 84:940-955.
Thormann, M.N., S.E. Bayley, and A.R. Szumigalski. 1998. Effects of
Hydrologic Changes on Aboveground Production and Water Chemistry
in Two Boreal Peatlands in Alberta: Implications for Global Warming.
Hydrobiologia 362:171-183.
Whitehouse, H.E., and S.E. Bayley. 2005. Vegetational Patterns and Biodiversity
of Peatland Plant Communities Surrounding Mid-boreal Wetland Ponds
in Alberta, Canada. Canadian Journal of Botany 83:621-637.
Request Volume 2, SIR 437a, Page 23-84.
Shell states several barriers to peatland reclamation however no formal
evaluation for re-establishment opportunities have been given.
37a Provide formal evaluation of opportunities of these important ecosystems.
Response 37a In the EIA, wetlands reclamation followed the conservative approach to
peatlands reclamation based on the Guideline for Wetland Establishment on
Reclaimed Oil Sands Leases (CEMA 2007). Peatlands were not shown to be
reclaimed at project closure; however, it is anticipated that they will occur on the
post-mining landscape in the far future scenario.
Shell has evaluated the following opportunities for re-establishment of peatlands
and wetlands. Examples include sites with high water table levels and a
favourable hydrologic regime in the closure landscape will provide wet
environments with the potential for moss establishment and peat accumulation.
Such areas may develop into peatlands in the far future. For example, closure
12-54 Shell Canada Limited April 2010
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