2002 Terrestrial Studies in the Gwich'in Settlement Area
Principal Investigator: Povey, Andrew (93)
Licence Number: 13365
Organization: TERA Environmental Consultants
Licensed Year(s): 2002
Issued: Jul 19, 2002
Project Team: Tim Van Eg

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 research program involves terrestrial studies in the Gwich'in Settlement Area to be conducted during 2002. Initial vegetation investigations were conducted in summer 2001 to classify vegetation along the study corridor. This classification was essentially completed in the Gwich'in Settlement Area. Vegetation studies during 2002 will focus on locating areas of rare or uncommon plants. These studies will only be conducted if a proposed pipeline route is surveyed and staked in 2002. If additional vegetation community typing is required, it will be conducted at the same time as the rare plant surveys. Traditional knowledge will be identified, gathered and validated through participative, community driven research methods. This amendment allows for rare plant surveys without a staked route.