2002 Route and Site Selection in the Sahtu Settlement Area
Principal Investigator: Povey, Andrew (93)
Licence Number: 13279
Organization: TERA Environmental Consultants
Licensed Year(s): 2005 2004 2003 2002
Issued: Mar 22, 2002
Project Team: Piers Fothergill

Objective(s): Imperial Oil Resources, CONOCO Canada Resources Limited, Shell Canada Limited, and ExxonMobil Canada initiated a number of Baseline Studies during 2001 as part of a feasibility study for the Mackenzie Delta Gas Opportunity. These studies are being continued in 2002. Local knowledge and technical/scientific research, in combination with a synthesis of existing technical information, is being used to develop a suitable knowledge base for planning, assessment of impacts and development of environmental protection plans. TERA Environmental Consultants (TERA), in association with Kavik-AXYS Environmental Consulting Ltd., AMEC Earth & Environmental Ltd., and Golder Associates Ltd., has been retained to conduct the baseline studies. The proposed project will involve one or more helicopter flights for the purposes of pipeline routing, site selection and geotechnical observation within the Sahtu Settlement Area in 2002. Route and site selection flights will be used to: (1) determine the optimal location for a potential natural gas pipeline route and associated developments through the Sahtu Settlement Area; (2) visually inspect and confirm land forms and geotechnical features; (3) identify land features that may be important to the location or construction of a potential gas pipeline; and (4) determine the optimal locations for potential facility sites, access points to the right-of-way, staging areas, borrow sources, gravel resources, camp locations, etc. Traditional knowledge (TK) as it relates to route and site selection will be identified, gathered, and validated through participative, community driven research methods.

Project Description: Route and site selection flights will be used to: (1) determine the location for a potential natural gas pipeline route and associated developments through the Sahtu Settlement Area; (2) visually inspect and confirm land forms and geotechnical features; (3) identify land features that may be important to the location or construction of a potential gas pipeline; and (4) determine the locations for potential facility sites, access points to the right-of-way, staging areas, borrow sources, gravel resources, camp locations, etc. During the overflights, locations of important land features will be confirmed by Global Positioning System (GPS), and photographs or videos will be taken. It is likely that two route and site selection overflights will take place, one in mid to late March to confirm winter conditions and one in May or June to confirm spring/summer conditions. Additional activities may be conducted if information is needed after the two planned overflights. Landing may occur at selected sites for more detailed observation, subject to avoidance of sensitive areas and confirmation by the community representative. Landings are most likely to occur include: (1) lands in proximity to crossings of major watercourses by the tentative gathering pipeline corridor (e.g. Great Bear River, Hare Indian River); (2) locations of unique land features; and (3) locations where difficulty would be encountered when constructing a pipeline (e.g. Gibson's Gap area). For safety reasons, landings will only occur at sites where clearings or low vegetation would permit safe landing of a helicopter. Landings will not be made at sites close to occupied camps or sites (i.e., within 500 m), or areas where large wildlife or wildlife concentrations are visible. Field crews will be required to pack out all materials used during ground and aerial surveys. All aircraft refueling will occur at existing airfields (e.g., Norman Wells, Tulita, Ft. Good Hope). Traditional knowledge (TK) as it relates to route and site selection will be identified, gathered, and validated through participative, community driven research methods, and may involve individual/group interviews or site visits to significant biophysical or cultural locations. Participation in the study is voluntary, and all participants will sign a consent form before being interviewed.