Pierre River Mine Project

TERRESTRIAL AENV SIRS 44 – 78
Section 13.1
Response 72a Shell incorrectly mentioned the Albian Sands Mine External Tailings
Containment Facility when referring to the proposed external tailings disposal
area (ETDA). The response to the May 2009 Pierre River Mine, Supplemental
Information, Volume 2, SIR 461d should have referenced Shell’s Pierre River
Mine ETDA. The corrected response to the original question follows.
In the early stages of ETDA construction and use, mammals, amphibians and
reptiles are unlikely to interact with the Pierre River Mine external tailings
disposal area (ETDA) shoreline from surrounding undisturbed areas. Terrestrial
wildlife will be further discouraged from accessing the Pierre River Mine ETDA
because the dyke surrounding the ETDA will be about 7 m high before any
tailings are released.
As discussed in EIA, Volume 5, Section 7.5.3.2, residual impacts from activities
associated with the interaction of wildlife with project infrastructure, such as
mortality associated with the ETDA, after mitigation measures are applied (see
EIA, Volume 5, Section 7.1.3) are predicted to have a low environmental
consequence rating for yellow rail and black-throated green warbler, and a
negligible rating for all other key indicator resources (KIRs), such as Canadian
toad, barred owl, moose, black bear, Canada lynx, fisher marten and beaver (see
EIA, Volume 5, Section 7.5.3.2, Table 7.5-36). Interactions with infrastructure
are reasonably well understood but lack quantification. Therefore, prediction
confidence was rated as moderate. From 2003 to 2008, the Muskeg River Mine
recorded 70 avian mortalities because of oiling, averaging 11.6 birds per year.
Total avian mortalities at the Muskeg River Mine from 2003 to 2008 are 119,
averaging 19.8 birds per year. Regional environmental consequences in the
Planned Development Case for interactions with infrastructure are predicted to be
negligible. Shell is continuing to manage its bird deterrent systems to mitigate the
effects of the ETDA on birds.
Request 72b What design features and mitigation measures will Shell implement to
substantially reduce the potential for wildlife to become contaminated during the
early stages of tailings pond construction and use?
Response 72b In the early stages of the external tailings disposal area (ETDA) construction no
tailings will be present. Before tailings are eventually released into the ETDA, a
7 m-high dyke surrounding the ETDA will be constructed, further discouraging
terrestrial wildlife from accessing the Pierre River Mine ETDA.
Shell will continue to manage its bird deterrent systems to mitigate the effects of
the ETDA on birds. Sensory disturbance from the waterfowl deterrent system
may also deter other wildlife potentially utilizing the area. Surrounding
vegetation will be managed to remove all remnant patches of natural habitat to
ensure that animals are not attracted to the area. If shoreline vegetation growth
occurs in the ETDA after production begins, the vegetation will be removed with
herbicide, and muskeg mats that rise to the ETDA surface will be covered with
tarpaulins until they sink. A zero tolerance policy for wildlife feeding on site will
help to reduce animal habituation and reduce the removal of nuisance wildlife.
April 2010 Shell Canada Limited 13-67
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