NOTICE OF APPLICATION
ATHABASCA OIL SANDS AREA
ENERGY RESOURCES CONSERVATION BOARD
APPLICATION NO. 1626702

ALBERTA ENVIRONMENT
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND ENHANCEMENT ACT
APPLICATION NO. 56-94

SUNCOR ENERGY INC.
TAILINGS REDUCTION OPERATIONS APPLICATION

Take Notice that Suncor Energy Inc. (Suncor) has applied to the Energy Resources Conservation
Board (ERCB; previously the Energy Utilities Board [EUB]) and to Alberta Environment (AENV) for amendments to its regulatory approvals to proceed with a change for its activities east of the Athabasca River (Suncor’s East Bank Development Area [EBDA] operations) to initiate Tailings Reduction Operations (TRO).

Suncor’s EBDA operations are located in Townships 90 to 93, Ranges 8 to 10, West of the 4th Meridian. The Suncor EDBA comprises the Steepbank, Millennium, and North Steepbank Extension mining areas; the South Tailings Pond; Millennium Mine Dump 9; Steepbank Extraction Plant; TRO Experimental Facilities; and related infrastructure.

Implementation of Suncor’s TRO would involve a revision of the mine plan, the integrated tailings plan, and the closure, conservation, and reclamation plan for the EBDA as well as a revision to the site-wide water management plan. The full scale commercial implementation of TRO would allow Suncor to meet requirements set out in ERCB Directive 074: Tailings Performance Criteria and Requirements for Oil Sands Mining Schemes.

Nature of the Applications
In support of the proposal, Suncor has prepared and submitted a joint application of the following:

• Application No. 1626702 to the ERCB, pursuant to Section 13 of the Oil Sands Conservation Act, to amend EUB Approval No. 8535 to incorporate the construction and operation of TRO;
• Application No. 56-94 to AENV, pursuant to Part 2, Division 2 of the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act (EPEA), to amend EPEA Approval No. 94-02-00, as amended, to facilitate the proposed implementation of TRO and update the closure, conservation, and reclamation plan for the EBDA.

Suncor has also prepared and submitted an Environmental Support Information Report. This report forms part of the joint application to the ERCB and AENV.

Additional Information
To obtain additional information or a copy of the joint application and the Environmental Support Information Report, contact

Suncor Energy Inc.
Attention: Kyle B. Scott, Director, Project Approvals
Telephone: 780-714-6229
Fax: 780-788-4776
E-mail: kbscott@suncor.com

For information about ERCB procedures contact

ERCB Mineable Oil Sands Group
Attention: Shelley Youens
Telephone: 780-743-7488
Fax: 780-743-7141
E-mail: shelley.youens@ercb.ca

Copies of the joint application and the Environmental Support Information 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

Alberta Environment
111, Twin Atria Building
4999 – 98 Avenue NW
Edmonton, Alberta  T6B 2X3

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

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

Suncor Energy Inc.
Fort McMurray Office
9912 Franklin Avenue
Fort McMurray, Alberta  T9H 2K5
 
A copy of the application is available for viewing on the ERCB’s Web site at www.ercb.ca on the Integrated Application Registry (IAR).

To File a Statement of Concern
Under Section 73 of EPEA, any person who is directly affected by the EPEA application may submit a written statement of concern. Statements of concern under EPEA must be submitted by January 15, 2010. Failure to file a statement of concern may affect the right to file a Notice of Appeal with the Environmental Appeals Board. Please quote Application No. 56-94 (EPEA) when submitting a statement of concern. If no statements of concern are received, the EPEA application may be approved without further notice. Please submit your statement to

Regional Approvals Manager, Northern Region
(Designated Director under the Act)
Alberta Environment
Regulatory Approvals Centre
9th Floor, Oxbridge Place
9820 – 106 Street
Edmonton, Alberta  T5K 2J6
Telephone: 780-427-6311
Fax: 780-422-0154

Applications for Confidentiality
In accordance with Section 13 of the 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 ERCB under Section 13(2) for confidentiality and serve a copy of such request on the other parties involved in the hearing. The ERCB 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
In accordance with Section 25 of the Rules of Practice, a person who intends to raise a question of constitutional law before the ERCB must give notice in accordance with Section 12 of the Administrative Procedures and Jurisdiction Act and its regulation.

This notice of applications is being distributed to advise interested parties that the joint application is available for viewing and that the ERCB and other Alberta Government departments are now undertaking review of the joint application.

Issued at Calgary, Alberta, on October 28, 2009.

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