JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – A three-member joint panel of environmental experts has been established to review diversified miner Teck Resources’ proposed Frontier oil sands mine project, in Northern Alberta, announced Environment and Climate Change Minister Catherine McKenna and Alberta Energy Regulator president and CEO Jim Ellis.
The joint review panel agreement signed by McKenna and Ellis established the mandate and terms of reference of the panel, its composition, and the procedure and timelines of the review.
Under the agreement, the panel would conduct a review of the environmental effects of the project, consider mitigation measures, determine whether the project was likely to cause significant adverse effects, and identify any follow-up programmes required. The joint review panel would also consider comments from the public and indigenous groups that were received during the assessment.
However, in light of the devastating wildfire that had affected the residents and indigenous groups in the Fort McMurray area since early May, the Minister extended the timeline for the panel to submit its report by three months.
This extension would allow the panel to begin its preparatory work while postponing the start of indigenous and public engagement activities until the situation in the region improved.
The joint review panel would include panel chair and professional geoscientist Alex Bolton, Alberta Energy Regulator hearing commissioner Robert McManus and natural resources consultant William Klassen.