^ ' dOOlo- C ^ FORT McMURRAY-ATHABASCA OIL SANDS SUBREGIONAL INTEGRATED RESOURCE PLAN Approved by Cabinet on May 7, 1996 Amended June, 2002 1996 Edmonton Publication No: 1/358 ISBN: 0-86499-749-3 Copies of this report may be obtained from: Alberta Environment and Alberta Sustainable Resource Development Information Center Main Floor, 9920 - 108 Street Edmonton, Alberta CANADA T5K 2M4 Telephone: (780) 422-2079 Fax: (780) 427-4407 Email: [email protected] Copies of this report may be viewed at: Alberta Government Library Great West Life Site 6th Floor, 9920-108 Street Edmonton, Alberta CANADA T5K2M4 Telephone: (780) 427-5870 Fax: (780) 422-0170 Email: [email protected] II II m PREFACE This planning document was prepared by government agencies and public consultants in recognition of the need for improved management of Alberta’s lands and resources. It applies only to public lands in the Fort McMurray-Athabasca Oil Sands planning area, not to private or federal lands. The plan presents the Government of Alberta’s resource management policy for public lands and resources within the area. It i s intended to be a g uide for resource managers, industry and the public with responsibility or interests in the area, rather than a r egulatory mechanism. Resource potentials and opportunities for development are identified with a view to assisting in the economic progress of Alberta. The plan is sufficiently flexible so that all future proposals for land use and development may be considered. No legitimate proposals will be categorically rejected. Energy resource decisions are subject to the application of regulatory approval processes under the jurisdiction of the Minister of Energy. This plan may influence regulatory decisions, but will not result in the categorical approval or rejection of energy proposals. The provincial government is committed to serving Albertans; should a p roposal not be in keeping with the provisions of the plan, staff will work with the proponent to explore alternative means for accommodating the proposal in a m ore appropriate location, either in this planning area or on other public lands. The rejection of any proposal will be done only in writing by the Minister of Environmental Protection or his designate. A d etailed outline for implementation will be provided for this subregional plan in order to identify the necessary implementation actions and roles. This implementation outline will also provide for the periodic review of the plan so that it m ay accommodate changing needs and situations. Wherever possible, the private sector will be provided with the opportunity to be actively involved in the operational delivery of the plan. Implementation is subject to the normal budgetary approval process. In establishing overall priorities, opportunities in other planning areas and areas currently outside the planning process will be considered. While the plan identifies resource potentials and opportunities, the realization of these may require the dedication of major amounts of p ublic funds. The plan will be used on the understanding that any actions required for implementation will only be undertaken as budgetary approvals are given in the normal way. The private sector will be given the first opportunity to provide any development required. This plan has no legal status and is subject to revisions or review at the discretion of the Minister of Environmental Protection. iii !l ■ 1 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1 1.1 Purpose of the Plan 1 1 .2 Planning Process and Participants 1 1.3 Planning Area 2 1.4 Implications of Future Development 4 2.0 POLICY CONTEXT 6 2.1 Legislation and Policy Framework 6 2.2 Howto Use the Plan 7 3.0 BROAD RESOURCE MANAGEMENT DIRECTION 10 3.1 Mineral and Surface Material Resources 10 3.2 Forest Resources 12 3.3 Settlement 13 3.4 Access and Infrastructure 14 3.5 Agriculture.. 15 3.6 Recreation and Tourism 16 3.7 Water Resources 17 3.8 Fisheries 18 3.9 Wildlife 19 3.10 Ecological Resources 21 3.11 Historical Resources 21 3.12 Population Health 22 4.0 RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AREAS 22 4.1 FortMcMurray Fringe Resource Management Area 23 4.2 Athabasca-Clearwater Resource Management Area 27 4.3 Gregoire Lake Resource Management Area 34 4.4 Mildred-Kearl Lakes Resource Management Area 36 4.5 Stony-Birch Resource Management Area 41 5.0 PLAN MANAGEMENT 43 5.1 Recommended Implementation Tasks and Strategies 43 5.2 Administering the Plan 45 REFERENCES 47 v 49 GLOSSARY APPENDICES 54 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1. Planning Area 3 Figure 2. Resource Management Areas 8 Figure 3. Fort McMurray Fringe Resource Management Area 24 LIST OF TABLES Table! Population growth in the planning area, 1961-1991 5 Table 2. Resource Management Area Activity Matrix 9 VI • Alberta Municipal Affairs 1 • Alberta Economic Development and Tourism . • Alberta Transportation and Utilities 0 1.1 Purpose of the Plan • Alberta Community Development TSIhuebN rT eFgRoirOotn D aMUlc CM ITunrItreOgarNya- tAedt h aRbesaosucrac e O iPll a nS a npdrso vides a •• AADllebbveeerrtltaao p AmEgenrneirtcg uyl t uarned, UFtoiloidt i easn dB o Raurrda l comprehensive, integrated approach to the management of public land and resources. It The City of Fort McMurray Planning Department, provides government direction and policy the Fort McKay Indian Band, and representatives information for developing and assessing future from private industry also provided input. Special actions by provincial government agencies and the interest groups and the general public have also private sector. contributed to the preparation of this document. This plan has the following purposes: The planning process for development of subregional integrated resource plans consists of a • to resolve issues and conflicts on public land series of interrelated steps. The steps are and resources through the integration of generally sequential; data gathering and analysis objectives and by providing the guidelines to steps occur throughout the process. Flexibility achieve these objectives; exists in the process so it is p ossible to return to previous steps. • to provide agencies with a f ramework within which to develop and implement their own Preparation and approval of a t erms of reference programs; document occurs during the plan initiation step of the planning process. The terms of reference • to promote a b roader perspective of the present a d escription of the planning area, the interdependence of all aspects of resource and purpose of the plan, a review of existing resource land management in the planning area; management policy direction, major resource management concerns and issues and a b rief • to improve communication between the public explanation of the decision-making process. The and the government; and planning team completed draft terms of reference in May 1987. On June 25, 1987, an open house • to inform the public, government agencies and was held in Fort McMurray to obtain public input industry about the objectives and activities of on the draft terms of reference. Issues of agencies managing public land and resources concern to the public included: in the planning area. • agricultural expansion; • recreation and tourism opportunities; 1.2 Planning Process and Participants • transportation linkages to other regions; • environmental impacts; and The Resource Planning Branch (now Strategic • mandates of local and provincial government and Regional Support) Alberta Environmental agencies. Protection coordinated input from provincial government departments and agencies. These Preparation of the terms of reference was included: followed by the initiation of data collection and analysis. The Resource Information Division of • Alberta Environmental Protection Alberta Environmental Protection assisted the • Land and Forest Service pinlvaennntionrgy . team by preparing an integrated resource • Natural Resource Service • Environmental Regulatory Service • Corporate Management Service • Alberta Energy The resource management agencies collected and Forty-five percent of the planning area is analyzed data in the categories of present use, underlain by surface mineable oil sands. Forty demand, potential and capability for a v ariety of seven separate leases have been issued, and three resources. This information was used in the of these are currently being developed development of resource management objectives commercially by the Syncrude and Suncor mining and guidelines and in the resolution of identified operations. Most of the remaining portions of the conflicts. During the development of the draft planning area (i.e., southern portion) are underlain plan, informal discussions were held with some by oil sands that are too deep to be surface public interests in the planning area. mineable. These reserves are only recoverable by using in-situ extraction techniques. 1.3 Planning Area Sulphur and vanadium have been extracted as byproducts of the oil sands mining operations. Geography Salt and limestone, which have been produced periodically, and other minerals such as natural The Fort McMurray-Athabasca Oil Sands gas, conventional petroleum, titanium and gypsum planning area (Figure 1) i s located approximately have moderate potential. Aggregate, peat and 385 km (239 mi.) northeast of Edmonton and 60 topsoil resources are limited. km (37 mi.) west of the Alberta-Saskatchewan border. It represents a l argely remote landscape Through a f orest management agreement (FMA), Alberta-Pacific Forest Industries has been of approximately 7163 km2 (2766 sq. mi.) and contains Fort McMurray, an urban service area in granted the authority to manage and harvest the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo. deciduous and coniferous timber. Coniferous Highways 63 and 881 link this area with other timber quotas are committed to Weyerhaeuser parts of the province. Lands outside of the Canada Ltd., Northland Forest Products Ltd and jurisdiction of this plan include, Fort McMurray, Millar Western. Some Miscellaneous Timber Use the hamlets of Fort MacKay and Anzac, Native Areas are available for local residents and the reserves and Metis Settlements and private land. forest industry. Approximately 98 percent of the planning area is provincial public land. The Athabasca River and several tributary rivers and creeks are vital parts of the regional Shaped by glacial and post-glacial activity, this ecosystem. The Athabasca River is the principal landscape comprises several undulating plains source of water for municipal and industrial uses. with some upland areasCthe highest being the Fort McMurray and the Syncrude/Suncor oil Stony Mountain Upland south of Gregoire Lake. sands operations are the largest water consumers. Significant natural features in the area include the The area’s scenic rivers support a variety of fish Athabasca and Clearwater river systems. and wildlife resources, they also offer recreational Slumping commonly occurs along the banks of camping and fishing opportunities for local these rivers. In higher, well drained upland areas, residents and visitors. Gregoire Lake, which tree cover consists of white spruce, aspen and adjoins a N atural Area and provincial park, offers jack pine. Muskeg and wetlands contain black significant recreational opportunities. spruce, willow, birch and sphagnum moss. The river systems and Gregoire Lake provide Resource Synopsis limited fishing opportunities. These water bodies support a v ariety of species including walleye, lake whitefish, northern pike, burbot, suckers, The planning area includes one of Alberta’s most significant mineral depositsCthe Athabasca Oil yellow perch, goldeye and mountain whitefish. Sands. This deposit contains an estimated 720 Wildlife species are generally limited in diversity billion barrels of crude bitumen. When combined and abundance. The northern boreal mixedwood with the smaller oil sands deposits that exist in ecosystem is characterized by low habitat Alberta, the total crude oil reserves are estimated capabilities and low reproductive rates. The river to exceed those of the Middle East. 2