Pierre River Mine Project

MINING AND PROCESSING ERCB SIRS 3 – 38
Section 4.1
the waste volumes presented did not correspond to the boiler size and the
technology selected. This was an error in compiling the data for the application.
Request 13b Explain any impacts to the EIA based on the higher waste tonnage.
Response 13b The higher waste tonnage does not affect the EIA. The asphaltene energy
recovery (AER) cogeneration waste will be stored in one of two Class II landfills
at the Pierre River Mine (see the May 2009 Pierre River Mine, Supplemental
Information, Volume 1, Section 4.2, Waste Management), which were sized to
accept the updated waste volumes. The Class II landfills are located within the
boundaries of the proposed Pierre River Mine development area, which was
assessed in the EIA. The landfill will be located with the project’s closed-circuit
system for process-affected waters and will be constructed and operated based on
best management practices to minimize air and aquatic emissions. Therefore, the
impacts from the landfill are expected to be negligible and do not affect the
findings of the EIA.
Request 13c Update the EIA to reflect the larger waste volumes and emissions.
Response 13c See the response to ERCB SIR 13b.
Request 13d Provide a summary of the environmental measures and controls that will be
included in the design to minimize emissions.
Response 13d The asphaltene-fired cogeneration plant will include the following environmental
control units:
Question No. 14
• selective catalytic reduction
• limestone handling and preparation
• a mercury control system
• a baghouse
• wet flue gas desulphurization (FGD) and wet electrostatic precipitator (ESP)
• solid waste handling systems
For a summary of each of these units, see the Pierre River Mine Project
Description, Volume 2, Section 8.2, Electrical Power.
Request Volume 1, Section 10.1, Page 10-82, Supplemental Information Responses.
Shell states, “Shell does not plan to have a permanent ore stockpile within the
project area. However, during the commissioning of the mine, an ore stockpile
4-12 Shell Canada Limited April 2010
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