OTTAWA, August 10, 2006 - The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (the Agency) has awarded $100,000 to three applicants in support of their participation in the environmental assessment by a Canada-Alberta joint review panel of the proposed Muskeg River Mine Expansion Project in Northern Alberta.
The funds will assist the recipients to prepare for and participate in the joint public hearings on the environmental effects of the project. The Alberta Energy Utilities Board (EUB) application will serve as the basis for the joint panel's review of the project. A joint review panel comprised of members of the EUB and a member appointed by the federal Minister of the Environment will review the project starting this fall.
The recipients are: the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation Industrial Relations Corporation, the Mikisew Cree First Nation and the Oil Sands Environmental Coalition. The funding is made available through the Participant Funding Program administered by the Agency.
A funding review committee, independent from the joint review panel environmental assessment process, was established to examine all participant funding applications received for this project. All of the Committee's recommendations were unanimous and are contained in the report of the Funding Review Committee. The report along with further information on the project is available on the Agency's Web site.
The Albian Sands Energy Inc. (Albian Sands), a joint venture company owned by Shell Canada Limited, Chevron Canada Limited and Western Oils Sands L.P., is seeking to expand the existing Muskeg River Mine. The expansion will allow Albian Sands to increase bitumen production capacity to an average nominal 270,000 barrels per calendar day (approximately 43,000 cubic metres). The expansion is located approximately 70 kilometres north of Fort McMurray. Construction of the proposed expansion, if approved, would begin in 2007.
For more information on the Participant Funding Program, contact:
Suzanne Osborne
Acting Manager, Participant Funding Program
Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
Tel.: 613-957-0254
Fax: 613-957-0496
suzanne.osborne@ceaa-acee.gc.ca
The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency administers the federal environmental assessment process, which identifies the environmental effects of proposed projects and measures to address those effects, in support of sustainable development.
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Media may contact:
Gordon Harris
Senior Communications Advisor
Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
Tel.: 613-957-0825
