NWT RESEARCH DATABASE

Regions: Inuvialuit Settlement Region

Tags: environmental assessment, petroleum industry, soil, vegetation, infrastructure planning, rare plants, Mackenzie Gas Project, terrestrial ecosystem, permafrost mapping, environmental protection plan

Objective(s): Imperial Oil Resources Ventures Limited, Aboriginal Pipeline Group, ConocoPhillips Canada (North) Limited, Shell Canada Limited, and ExxonMobil Canada Properties are continuing baseline studies begun in 2001 as part of the Mackenzie Gas Project. 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. This portion of the project will involve terrestrial studies (vegetation and soils investigations). The primary goals are to classify and map vegetation, landforms, soils and permafrost, to identify locations of rare plants and uncommon plant communities, and to conduct soil sampling. Classification will occur at potential infrastructure sites, roads, borrow pits, the anchor fields, and at select locations alogn the pipeline where further information is still required, particulary at locations where the previously proposed route has changed. Detailed rare plant surveys will occur where the project footprint is reasonably well defined on the anchor fields, the gathering system, and the Inuvik facility. An aerial reconnaissance of the Mackenzie River and bank areas will be conducted to identify and document existing erosion and mass movement occurrences. This information is required to assess the potential impacts of the project to terrestrial resources and plan strategies to minimize or avoid impacts to sensitive or valued terrestrial features.