Notice of Application
OSCA Application 1932293
EPEA Application 017-00151469
Water Act Applications 011-00190012 and 024-00151636
Fort Hills Energy Corporation
Fort Hills Oil Sands Project
The Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) has received integrated Oil Sands Conservation Act (OSCA)application 1932293, Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act (EPEA) application 017-00151469 and Water Act (WA) applications 011-00190012 and 024-00151636 from Suncor Energy Operating Inc., on behalf of the Fort Hills Energy Corporation, for approval of the Out-of-Pit Tailings Area (OPTA) East Toe Berm (ETB) Project. The AER is reviewing the applications together with the supporting documents.
This notice also sets out the deadline for filing statements of concern on these applications. See the section below on how to file a statement of concern for filing dates.
Description of the Applications
Fort Hills Energy Corporation has applied to
- amend approval 9241H under OSCA;
- amend approval 151469-01-00, as amended, under the EPEA; and
- amend approval 151636-01-00, as amended, and licence 190012-01-00, as amended, under the WA.
The applications are to extend the currently approved Fort Hills Oil Sands Project boundaries by approximately 67 hectares, to accommodate a berm along the east dyke of the OPTA, relocate associated infrastructure, and develop a laydown area and reclamation material stockpile. The ETB Project is required to provide additional buttressing support to enable the continued rise of OPTA to the final approved design elevation.
Fort Hills is requesting an amendment to the current approval boundaries including the OSCA Approval Area, EPEA Project Area, and the WA approval and licence Fenceline.
The ETB Project area was included in the originally approved Fort Hills Project (TrueNorth Energy Application 2001), but was removed in subsequent applications. Fort Hills has estimated negligible changes to the environmental impacts associated with the ETB Project, compared to previously assessed environmental effects associated with the approved OPTA operations.
The ETB Project area is located southeast of the currently approved Fort Hills project boundary, adjacent to the Syncrude Canada Ltd. Aurora North Project and approximately 90 kilometres north of Fort McMurray, Alberta, in Township 96; Range 10; West of the 4th Meridian.
For a copy of the applications, contact
Fort Hills Energy Corporation
150 – 6 Avenue S.W.
Calgary, Alberta T2P 3E3
Attention: Laura Roberts
Telephone: 403-312-8893
Email: @email
To receive a copy of the applications and supporting documents, submit an information request, as outlined at www1.aer.ca/ProductCatalogue/ordering.html, to
AER Information Distribution Services
Suite 1000, 250 – 5 Street SW
Calgary, Alberta T2P 0R4
Telephone: 1-855-297-8311
(toll free; option 0)
Email: @email
Refer to this notice when requesting information for a faster response.
Requirement to File a Statement of Concern
If you have concerns with these applications, you must file a statement of concern as described below. If you do not file a statement of concern, the AER may approve the applications without further notification.
How to File a Statement of Concern
For your submission to be considered a valid statement of concern, it must be filed before 4:00 p.m. on March 22, 2021. Send one copy of your statement of concern to Fort Hills Energy Corporation at the name and address above and one copy to
Regulatory Applications
Alberta Energy Regulator
Suite 1000, 250 – 5 Street SW
Calgary, Alberta T2P 0R4
Fax: 403-297-7336
Email: @email
Contents of a Statement of Concern
For your submission to be considered a valid statement of concern, it must include
a) why you believe that you may be directly and adversely affected by a decision of the AER on the applications;
b) the nature of your objection to the applications;
c) the outcome of the applications that you advocate;
d) the location of your land, residence, or activity in relation to the location of the energy resource activity that is the subject of the applications; and
e) your contact information, including your name, address in Alberta, telephone number, and email address or, if you do not have an email address, your fax number.
The AER also requests that you include the application number in your statement of concern.
Confidentiality
Section 49 of the Alberta Energy Regulator Rules of Practice (Rules of Practice) requires that all documents and information filed in a proceeding be placed on the public record. If you file a submission, you must not include any personal information that you do not want to appear on or are not authorized to put on the public record. Section 49(2) of the Rules of Practice states how to apply to the AER for an order to keep information confidential. The Rules of Practice is available on the AER website at www.aer.ca.
Jurisdiction
Submissions relating exclusively to compensation for land use are not dealt with by the AER and should be referred to the Alberta Surface Rights Board.
Under section 21 of the Responsible Energy Development Act, the AER does not have the jurisdiction to assess the adequacy of Crown consultation associated with the rights of aboriginal peoples as recognized and affirmed under the Constitution Act, 1982.
For information on AER procedures, contact the regulatory applications specialist, Erin Wadsworth, by phone at 403-297-4104 or by email to @email.
Issued at Calgary, Alberta, on February 19, 2021.
ALBERTA ENERGY REGULATOR
Charlene Graham, General Counsel