NOTICE OF APPLICATION
ATHABASCA OIL SANDS AREA
ENERGY RESOURCES CONSERVATION BOARD
APPLICATION NO. 1554388

ALBERTA ENVIRONMENT
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND ENHANCEMENT ACT
APPLICATIONS NO. 005-00153125 AND 006-00153125
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT REPORT
WATER ACT FILE NO. 00186157

SHELL CANADA LIMITED
JACKPINE MINE EXPANSION

Application No. 1554388 was submitted to the Alberta Energy and Utilities Board (EUB) prior to January 1, 2008. Effective January 1, 2008, the EUB was replaced by the Energy Resources Conservation Board (ERCB) and the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC). In accordance with the transition provisions of the Alberta Utilities Commission Act, Application No. 1554388 will be processed by the ERCB. That part of the application which is pursuant to the Hydro and Electricity Energy Act will be refiled by the applicant with the AUC .

Take Notice that Shell Canada Limited (Shell) has made application to the Energy Resources Conservation Board (ERCB/Board) and Alberta Environment (AENV) to expand the Shell Jackpine Mine Phase 1 through an amendment and renewal of the existing approvals. The expansion would allow Shell to increase its bitumen production capability of the Jackpine Mine by 100 000 barrels (15 900 cubic metres) per day to a total of 300 000 barrels (47 700 cubic metres) per day of the expanded facilities.

The Jackpine Mine Expansion would involve adding new processing units, modification of approved facilities, and accessing additional mining areas at the Shell Jackpine Mine Phase 1, located about 70 kilometres north of Fort McMurray. The additional mining areas would be located on Oil Sands Leases 7277080T13 (Lease 13), 728101AT36 (Lease AT 36), 7288080T88 (Lease 88), 7288080T89 (Lease 89), 7405120015 (Lease 015), and 7405090631 (Lease 631).

Construction of the proposed expansion, if approved, could begin in 2010, with start-up of the new processing train planned for 2012.

 
Nature of the Applications
In support of the proposal, Shell has prepared and submitted the following:

• Application No. 1554388 to the ERCB, pursuant to Sections 12 and 13 of the Oil Sands Conservation Act,
• to amend EUB Approval No. 9756 to access additional mining areas, and carry out modifications, and add processing units to the Jackpine Mine Phase 1 processing facilities; and
• to receive third-party oil sands material (mined ore or intermediate process streams, such as bitumen froth) at the Jackpine Mine Expansion facilities, as well as to produce and ship oil sands material from the Jackpine Mine Expansion facilities.
• Applications No. 005-00153125 and 006-00153125 to AENV, pursuant to Part 2, Division 2, of the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act (EPEA),
• to amend EPEA Approval No. 153125-00-00 to include the construction, operation, and reclamation of the Jackpine Mine Expansion facilities in accordance with the application; and
• to renew EPEA Approval No. 153125-00-00 to continue operating the Jackpine Mine for another 10-year period.
• Application File No. 00186157 to AENV, pursuant to the Water Act, to authorize water management plans associated with the construction, operation, and reclamation of the Jackpine Mine Expansion, including the diversion of water from the Athabasca River through an existing approved water intake facility, as well as the diversion and impoundment of surface water as indicated below
• The maximum additional annual diversion from the Athabasca River would be
  18 000 000 cubic metres of water per year at SE24-095-11-W4
• The maximum additional annual diversion from surface water runoff would be
  24 500 000 cubic metres of water per year.

Shell has also prepared and submitted an environmental impact assessment (EIA) report addressing the proposed expansion of the Jackpine Mine, as well as Shell’s proposed Pierre River Mine. The EIA report forms part of the applications to the ERCB and AENV.

Additional Information
To obtain additional information or a copy of the applications and the EIA report, contact

Mr. Michael Saretsky
Major Approvals Coordinator
Shell Canada Energy
Oil Sands Division
400 - 4 Avenue SW
P.O. Box 100, Station M
Calgary, Alberta  T2P 2H5
Telephone: 403-384-5194
Fax: 403-384-5130
E-mail: michael.saretsky@shell.com

For information regarding ERCB procedures contact

Muzammel Mann
ERCB Fort McMurray Regional Office
Telephone: 780-743-7203
Fax: 780-743-7141
E-mail: muzammel.mann@ercb.ca

Copies of the applications and the EIA report are available for viewing at the following locations:

Energy Resources Conservation Board
Fort McMurray Regional Office
2nd Floor, Provincial Building
9915 Franklin Avenue
Fort McMurray, Alberta  T9H 2K4

Energy Resources Conservation Board
Information Services
640 – 5th Avenue SW, Main Floor
Calgary, Alberta  T2P 3G4

Albian Sands Energy Inc.
Fort McMurray Office
9912 Franklin Avenue
Fort McMurray, Alberta  T9H 2K5
Alberta Environment Library
6th Floor, Great West Life Building
9920 – 108 Street NW
Edmonton, Alberta  T5K 2M4

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

Oil Sands Discovery Centre
515 MacKenzie Boulevard
Fort McMurray, Alberta  T9H 4X3

Fort Chipewyan Municipal Office
101 Loutitt Street
Fort Chipewyan, Alberta  T0P 1B0 

To File a Statement of Concern

Under Section 73 of EPEA and Section 109 of the Water Act, any person who is directly affected by the EPEA applications or the Water Act application may submit a written statement of concern. Statements of concern under EPEA and the Water Act must be submitted by Thursday, October 2, 2008. Failure to file a statement of concern may affect the right to file a Notice of Appeal with the Environmental Appeals Board. Please quote Applications No. 005-00153125, 006-00153125 (EPEA) or File No. 00186157 (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

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

In accordance with Section 13 of the Energy Resources Conservation Board Rules of Practice, all documents filed in respect of this proceeding must be placed on the public record. However, any party may make an application to the Board for confidentiality pursuant to Section 13(2) and serve a copy of such request on the other parties involved in the hearing. 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.

This Notice of Application is being distributed to advise interested parties that the applications are available for viewing and that the ERCB and other Alberta government departments are now undertaking review of the applications.

Issued at Calgary, Alberta, on June 16, 2008.

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