NOTICE OF APPLICATIONS
ATHABASCA OIL SANDS CORP.
MACKAY RIVER COMMERCIAL PROJECT
ATHABASCA OIL SANDS AREA

ENERGY RESOURCES CONSERVATION BOARD
OIL SANDS CONSERVATION ACT
APPLICATION NO. 1635432

ALBERTA ENVIRONMENT
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND ENHANCEMENT ACT
APPLICATION NO. 001-254465
WATER ACT FILE NO. 00266369 AND
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT REPORT

The Energy Resources Conservation Board (ERCB/Board) has received Application No. 1635432 and Alberta Environment (AENV) has received Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act (EPEA) Application No. 001-254465 and a Water Act application for approval to construct and operate the MacKay River Commercial Project (the Project). This Notice of Applications is being distributed to advise interested persons that the applications are available and that the ERCB, AENV, and other government departments are now undertaking review of the applications.

Athabasca Oil Sands Corp. (AOSC) has applied to construct, operate, and reclaim an in situ oil sands project about 30 kilometres northwest of Fort McMurray in Townships 87 to 93, Ranges 11 to 16, West of the 4th Meridian. Construction of the Project is proposed to begin in 2012, with first production by 2014.

The proposed Project would use steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) technology and would be constructed in phases to reach an ultimate bitumen production capacity of 23 847 cubic metres per day (m ³ /d) (150 000 barrels per day [bbl/d]), with a first phase bitumen production capacity of 5564 m ³ /d (35 000 bbl/d). The proposed Project would include one remote steam generation facility and one central processing facility consisting of steam generation, bitumen and water treatment, and vapour recovery equipment.
 
Nature of the Applications
In support of the proposed Project, AOSC has prepared and submitted the following:

• Application No. 1635432 to the ERCB, pursuant to Section 10 of the Oil Sands Conservation Act, for approval to construct and operate the proposed Project.
• Application No. 001-254465 to AENV, pursuant to the EPEA, for the construction, operation, and reclamation of the proposed Project.
• An application (File No. 00266369) to AENV, pursuant to the Water Act, to divert a maximum of 2 116 964 cubic metres of groundwater per annum from wells to be completed in the Empress Formation (MacKay Channel). The production zones of the wells would be from 85.0 m to 115.0 m below ground surface. The wells would be located in Townships 90 and 91, Ranges 14 and 15, West of the 4th Meridian. The application under the Water Act also includes the diversion of surface water and the rerouting of watercourses.

AOSC has also prepared and submitted an environmental impact assessment (EIA) report in support of the proposed Project. The EIA report forms part of the application to the ERCB.

To obtain a copy of the applications and the EIA report, contact

Athabasca Oil Sands Corp.
Suite 2000, 250 – 6 Avenue SW
Calgary, Alberta  T2P 3H7
Attention: Jerry Demchuk (Manager, Regulatory and Stakeholder Affairs)
Telephone: 403-532-7718
Fax: 403-264-4640
E-mail: info@aosc.com

To view a copy of the applications and the EIA report, contact

ERCB Information Services
Main Floor, 640 – 5 Avenue SW
Calgary, Alberta  T2P 3G4
Telephone: 403-297-8311 (Option 2)
Viewing hours: 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Alberta Environment, Northern Region
Register of Environmental Assessment Information
111 Twin Atria Building
4999 – 98 Avenue
Edmonton, Alberta  T6B 2X3
Telephone: 780-427-5828
(toll free: 780-310-0000)

Copies of the application are also available for viewing at

Fort McMurray Public Library
9907 Franklin Avenue
Fort McMurray, Alberta  T9H 2K4

To File a Statement of Concern
Under Section 73 of EPEA and Section 109 of the Water Act, any person who may be directly affected by the EPEA Application No. 001-254465 or the Water Act File No. 00266369 may submit a written statement of concern. Statements of concern under EPEA must be submitted by July 11, 2010. Failure to file a statement of concern may affect the right to file a Notice of Appeal with the Environmental Appeal Board. Please quote Application No. 001-254465 (EPEA), or File No. 00266369 ( Water Act ) when submitting a statement of concern. If no statements of concern are received, the EPEA and Water Act applications may be approved without further notice. Please submit your statement to

Alberta Environment
Regulatory Approvals Centre
9th Floor, Oxbridge Place
9820 – 106 Street
Attention: Director, Northern Region
Edmonton, Alberta  T5K 2J6
Telephone: 780-427-6311
Fax: 780-422-0154

Applications for Confidentiality
In accordance with Section 13 of the Energy Resources Conservation Board Rules of Practice ( Rules of Practice ), all documents filed in respect of this proceeding must be placed on the public record. However, any party may apply for confidentiality of information under Section 13(2). Any application under Section 13(2) that is to be considered during a public hearing of the application must be copied to the other parties to the proceeding. The Board may grant a request for confidentiality on any terms it considers appropriate, subject to the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

Questions of Constitutional Law
Under Section 25 of the Rules of Practice, a person who intends to raise a question of constitutional law before the Board must give notice in accordance with Section 12 of the Administrative Procedures and Jurisdiction Act and its regulation.

For information about ERCB procedures, contact

Oil Sands Branch, In Situ Oil Sands Group
Attention: Nicole Jones
Telephone: 403-297-4173
Fax: 403-297-2474
E-mail: nicole.jones@ercb.ca

Issued at Calgary, Alberta, on March 23, 2010.

ENERGY RESOURCES CONSERVATION BOARD
Patricia Johnston, Q.C., General Counsel