News Release
Jackpine Mine Expansion Project and Pierre River Mine Project – Federal Funding Allocated to Support Participation in the Environmental Assessment

OTTAWA – June 9, 2011 – The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (the Agency) has allocated $239,940 among five applicants to support their participation in the federal environmental assessment of Shell’s proposed Jackpine Mine Expansion and Pierre River Mine projects. Both projects are located north of Fort McMurray, Alberta.

The funding recipients are the Non-Status Fort McMurray/Non-Status Fort McKay First Nation and Clearwater River Paul Cree Band #175, Patricia Whiteknife, Amanda Annand, Sierra Club Canada, and the Oil Sands Environmental Coalition.

This funding is allocated through the Participant Funding Program administered by the Agency and is intended to support public participation in upcoming steps in the environmental assessment process.

A funding review committee, independent of the environmental assessment process, was established to assess the requests for funding for these projects. The committee’s report, along with further information on the projects, is available on the Agency’s website, in the Canadian Environmental Assessment Registry, under reference number 10-05-59540 (Jackpine Mine Expansion Project) and 10-05-59539 (Pierre River Mine Project).

The Pierre River Mine Project proposed by Shell Canada includes the construction, operation and reclamation of an oil sands surface mine and bitumen extraction facilities. The proposed mining project would be located approximately 90 kilometres north of Fort McMurray on the west side of the Athabasca River. The proposed development includes an open-pit mine, ore handling, bitumen extraction and tailings processing facilities, support infrastructure, water and tailings management plans, as well as the construction of a bridge across the Athabasca River. The project is designed to produce a total of 200,000 barrels of bitumen per day.

Shell Canada is also proposing to expand the Jackpine Mine Project. The expansion would include additional mining areas and associated processing facilities, utilities and infrastructures. The project would be located about 70 kilometres north of Fort McMurray on the east side of the Athabasca River. The expansion project would increase bitumen production by 100 000 barrels per day.

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.

For more information, media may contact:

Isabelle Perrault
Senior Communications Advisor
Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
Tel.: 613-960-0290