News Release
Joint Panel Established To Review Proposed Jackpine Mine Expansion Project

OTTAWA, September 20, 2011 - The Honourable Peter Kent, federal Minister of the Environment and Minister responsible for the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency and Dan McFadyen, Chair of the Energy Resources Conservation Board (ERCB) of Alberta, today announced the establishment of a three-member joint panel to review Shell Canada's proposed Jackpine Mine Expansion project near Fort McMurray, Alberta.

Minister Kent and Mr. McFadyen appointed Mr. Jim Dilay as the panel chair. Mr. Alex Bolton and Mr. Les Cooke were appointed as the other members of the panel. Biographical information on the chair and panel members is available in the accompanying backgrounder.

Minister Kent and Mr. McFadyen have signed the joint review panel agreement being released today. The agreement was issued for public comment in March 2011 before being finalized. The agreement establishes the mandate and terms of reference of the joint panel, its composition, as well as the procedures and timelines for the assessment.

Under the agreement, the joint panel will:

  • conduct a review of the environmental effects of the proposed project and determine the significance of those effects;
  • consider measures that are technically and economically feasible to mitigate any adverse environmental effects and the need for, and the requirements of, any follow-up programs with respect to the project;
  • consider comments from the public and Aboriginal people that are received during the assessment.

Further details on the scope of the environmental assessment can be found in the terms of reference contained in the agreement. The agreement, along with more information on the project, is available on the Canadian Environmental Assessment Registry under reference number 10-05-59540.

Shell Canada is proposing to expand the Jackpine Mine project. The expansion would include additional mining areas and associated processing facilities, utilities and infrastructure. The project would be located about 70 km 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, bringing production at the mine to 300,000 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.

The Energy Resources Conservation Board is an independent, quasi-judicial agency of the Government of Alberta. It regulates the safe, responsible, and efficient development of Alberta's energy resources: oil, natural gas, oil sands, coal, and pipelines.

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