Pierre River Mine Project

HEALTH AENV SIRS 79 – 89
Reference
Question No. 85
Section 14.1
[SO2] and health effects based on the weight of evidence in the peer-reviewed
scientific literature” (Alberta Health and Wellness 2006, page 6). In the summary
of their review of human clinical studies, Alberta Health and Wellness (2006)
reported that “the weight of evidence for exposures up to 30 minutes suggest that
healthy humans can experience exposures to SO2 up to 10 ppm with transitory
effects on pulmonary function, even under challenging conditions involving
hyperventilation, mouth-only exposure, and heavy exercise. Transitory effects
may be observed at concentrations as low as 0.75 ppm” (page 7).
Alberta Health and Wellness 2006. Health Effects Associated with Short-term
Exposure to Low Levels of Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) – A Technical
Review. ISBN 0-7785-3481-2PDF.
Request Volume 2, SIR 66a, Page 18-22.
Shell was asked to provide a quantitative discussion of effects associated with
construction. Shell states emissions associated with constructing the plant
facilities will be short term and substantially less than during the operations
phase of the project. A quantitative assessment was not provided.
85a Provide this assessment.
Response 85a Emissions associated with constructing the plant facilities are expected to be
short term and substantially less than during the operations phase of the project.
The on-site vehicles and equipment associated with the overall construction of
the project will have less fuel requirements than for project operations, resulting
in a lower level of emissions during the construction phase. Regardless, an
estimate of construction phase emissions has been completed.
The basis for the emission estimates was the construction-phase greenhouse gas
(GHG) emissions provided in EIA, Volume 3, Section 3.4.8. Table AENV 85-1
provides a summary of the direct GHG emissions associated with both the
construction and operations phases of the project. On a total carbon dioxide
equivalent basis (CO2E) construction emissions would be approximately 5% of
the Jackpine Mine Expansion operation emissions and 6% of the Pierre River
Mine operations emissions.
Using these ratios as a surrogate for representing other combustion emissions for
each phase of the project it was concluded that the sulphur dioxide (SO2), oxides
of nitrogen (NOx), particulate matter with a mean aerodynamic diameter of
2.5 microns (PM2.5), carbon monoxide (CO) (and other non-criteria compounds)
emissions during construction would be proportionally lower than operation
levels.
14-22 Shell Canada Limited April 2010
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