Base de données de recherche des TNO

étiquettes: physical sciences, environmental assessment, environmental monitoring, biophysics

Objectif(s): To conduct ongoing monitoring and assessment programs, including areas in the Mackenzie River Special Management Zone (SMZ). These programs include environmental assessments, a summer inspection program and sampling activities, and collection of local and regional biophysical information to support ongoing cumulative effects assessment and to conduct geological field trips.

Description du projet: The main objectives of this research project are to: 1. Conduct ongoing monitoring and assessment programs, including areas in the Mackenzie River Special Management Zone (SMZ), for: a) Surface water; b) Groundwater; c) Fisheries and aquatic resources; d) Wildlife and wildlife habitat (including waterfowl, moose, caribou, bear, breeding birds and species at risk); e) Vegetation, rare plants and forestry; f) Geotechnical, terrain, soil and permafrost (gravel, sand, shale's, permafrost, all weather road and potential future pipeline); and g) Air monitoring. 2. Conduct environmental assessment(s) in support of potential additional program elements and related future applications, which may include: a) Wildlife and habitat (as noted in 1(d)); b) Vegetation, rare plants and forestry; c) Fisheries and aquatic resources; d) Stream crossings; e) Air monitoring; f) Geotechnical, terrain, soil and permafrost (gravel, sand, shale’s, permafrost, all weather road and potential future pipeline); and g) Pre-disturbance assessments and related soil sampling. 3. Complete summer inspection program and sampling activities (to include areas within the Mackenzie Valley SMZ), which entails: a) Sampling commitments made to Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (AANDC) and Government of Northwest Territories Department of Environment and Natural Resources (ENR); and b) Post-drilling inspection program: i. Visual inspection of access, drill pads, water sources, groundwater drilling sites, camps; ii. Detailed assessment of access, storage and staging within the Mackenzie River SMZ; iii. Assessment and sampling of effluent release areas; and iv. Assessment and sampling in area(s) deemed potential spill locations. 4. Collect local and regional biophysical information to support ongoing cumulative effects assessment. 5. Conduct geological field trip. 1. Biophysical Assessments: Monitoring and On-going Collection of Data Biophysical assessments will be completed during snow-free conditions, with most activity occurring between early June and mid-August, though some work, such as select wildlife investigations, may occur year-round. Weather and other logistical considerations may modify the timing of any planned assessments. Sites assessed previously may be reassessed. New sites, including those added to increase the coverage of the EL470 study area beyond those areas immediately adjacent to the 2013 activities, will be selected based on pre-scouting, air photo and LIDAR interpretation. Mapping verification sites and detailed assessment sites will also be selected for assessment. At the mapping verification sites, the plant communities will be documented based on the dominant species composition and cover in each strata; any special features are to be noted. The following detailed assessments may be undertaken during 2014: a. Wildlife and Species at Risk: Investigations may include wildlife observations based on a helicopter flying over a selected grid. Aerial observations would include species, number of individuals sited, behavior/ habitat use and type located in. The observations would also be geo-referenced using GPS and where possible, a photograph would accompany the observation. Data collected from ground surveys is expected to consist of species observed, scat and habitat use observations along pre-selected grids, located within a selection of each of the habitat types sampled and stratified according to relative habitat type and area (within the study area). Under a wildlife camera survey, cameras may be installed to study primary travel routes and movement patterns for wildlife, in those areas which may be affected by future project proposals. Surveys will focus on significant species, including species at risk and species of important traditional land use. If species at risk are observed, the observation record will include species, number of individuals, behavior, habitat use and type. A photograph and GPS reference will also be completed; data is to be submitted to ENR for their records. b. Rare Plants (plant species at risk): A rare vascular plant survey will be conducted for areas directly within the project footprint and/or in areas which may be affected by potential future construction. Samples of non-vascular plant cover will be taken to help determine the potential for rarity of these plant species within the study area. If present, plant species at risk will be documented and a rare species form will be completed and submitted to ENR, along with a plant specimen, for verification. The plant community will be classified according to NWT nomenclature and the landform type will be documented. Species of importance to Traditional Land Use will also be noted. Photographs are to accompany all sites assessed. c. Soil assessments: Soil boreholes are expected to be bored to either permafrost or a depth of 1 meter. Soil horizons will be assessed and should include a soil profile description and diagram, depth to permafrost, standing water, soil texture for each profile and depth of organic layer. In some areas, a soil sample may be collected for analysis based on the Phase 1 Site Assessment, scouting trip observations and observations at the site. The soil type will also be classified. 2. Surface Water and Sediment Sampling Surface water samples and sediment will be collected from selected lakes and streams. Selected water bodies in EL470 have already undergone bathymetric assessment and sampling. For any additional sampling and/or assessment work, a boat (zodiac) and bathymetric equipment will be used to collect volumetric information. ConocoPhillips can provide a map for the 2014 surface water and sediment sampling program by May 30th, if requested. 3. Groundwater Program The groundwater program planned for the monitoring wells (installed in 2013) will include pumping and sampling. Measurements will be taken to characterize and assess the groundwater quality and hydrogeology within the study area. All non-dedicated sampling equipment will be appropriately cleaned and decontaminated between wells. The baseline-data collected is expected to support a multi-year groundwater monitoring study planned for the EL 470 project area. Additional monitoring wells may also be installed to further support the monitoring program. Authorization for any new installations will be obtained from the appropriate authorities. 4. Fisheries and Aquatic Resources a. Fish and fish habitat assessment of stream crossings: Assessments will support planning and regulatory applications for the construction of a proposed all-weather road in EL470, which is anticipated to be built along the current winter road corridor. Timing for the fish habitat study is anticipated to occur in either summer or fall; exact dates have not yet been determined. This assessment would include habitat measurements, description and mapping of the riparian zone and stream bed at the crossing, as well as upstream and downstream; stream measurements for discharge, velocity and water depth. Photographs and GPS records are to be taken for all sites assessed. Fish will be collected using a variety of methods, to be approved by Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), including electrofishing, seines, minnow traps and angling. Information collected will include species identification, length, weight, visual inspection for DELT. Fish will be released live whenever possible; in circumstances where this is not possible, additional biological information is to be obtained from those samples. Additional sites may be established on one or two of the streams surveyed in the assessment, in collaboration with a DFO study assessing stream survey protocols. Data collection procedures and measurements would remain the same. b. Fish health and lake survey: These surveys are being conducted based on concerns raised during the Tulita District traditional knowledge studies and community consultations. Two lakes and potentially the Mackenzie River will be selected for the fish health surveys, based on locations proposed as both suitable for project water withdrawal needs (from last year’s surface water studies) and also identified by the communities as being used for harvesting purposes. Community input from Tulita and Norman Wells are expected to provide the basis for choosing the final sampling sites and the timing (summer or fall). The selected areas will be surveyed for fish composition (including species and location) and shoreline habitat characterization. They will also be sampled for physical water parameters. Biological sampling may include species identification, length, weight, sex, maturity, visual inspection for DELT, as well as gonad and liver somatic indexes. Fish tissue samples may be taken for target parameters such as mercury and methyl mercury, total metals, polycyclic aromatic compounds and hydrocarbon compounds. Data collection procedures remain the same as described in the previous section. If appropriate, suitable edible fish that cannot be released live will be donated back to the communities for distribution. Two additional lakes, also proposed for water withdrawal purposes, may be sampled for fish species composition and habitat characterization. The same biological information and physical measurements would be taken as with the fish health survey; however, no tissue samples would be taken. 5. Geotechnical Assessment The objective of the geotechnical assessment is to better understand the quantity and composition of soils from potential borrow pits throughout EL470 for road and pad construction. In 2013, boreholes and geophysical methods were used to determine permafrost conditions as well as potential sites of borrow material along the alignment of a proposed road right-of-way through EL470. Various sites were identified as potentially being suitable sources for road building material. Further analysis of the geophysical data is ongoing and a more extensive borehole program at the sites identified is required to delineate the volumes of potential borrow material. The assessment is expected to include drilling boreholes to an estimated depth of 10 meters below surface, logging surficial deposits, collecting samples for laboratory analysis, delineating the extent of borrow sources and preparing a conceptual engineering design for the proposed borrow pits. A cased solid-stem auger rig may be used for the study. ConocoPhillips will obtain any necessary regulatory approvals and landowner authorizations required to support this program. 6. Cumulative Effects Assessment Support The Cumulative Effects assessment is primarily a desk-top study. However, during the field program design the team will continue to work with other companies active in the area and GNWT ENR to consider additional information needs. This may include a fly-over site assessment to gather vegetation community type information and wildlife observations, within a broader regional study area. No detailed on-the-ground investigations are planned. 7. Environmental Protection Planning Follow-Up ConocoPhillips, through its efforts to date, has aimed to map and describe the baseline environmental conditions of the study area, as well as identify potential environmental and cultural sensitivities. As the research team consider future plans and evaluate the work done so far, it may be necessary to revisit selected field locations to gather additional environmental data and further assess sensitivity and suitability for project design/development. If required, this field program (revisiting of selected field locations) will be scheduled according to the nature of the feature(s) to be studied and type of fieldwork to be done, but is most likely to occur in July or August. 8. Geological Field Program Geological field program was undertaken in July 2013. Another similar program may be scheduled for 2014. The team intends to conduct a geological field program at outcrops in the mountains adjacent to EL470, in the Mackenzie Mountains and Franklin Mountains, including rock sample collection. The work would take place under snow-free conditions. The 6-8 person field crew is expected to use helicopters to fly daily from Norman Wells to the sites of interest in the Mackenzie and Franklin Mountains. The crew will land and assess some locations of interest, which may include taking small (fist-sized or smaller) rock samples from the outcrops. Equipment would include maps, GPS, rock hammers, cameras, notebooks. ConocoPhillips has a Benefits Agreement in place that ensures local beneficiaries are considered for all employment and business opportunities. Possible opportunities include: wildlife monitor, fisheries surveys, environmental support and training. The team expects to conduct community consultations several times throughout the year. For 2014, consultations are expected to include a debrief about 2013 operations, an overview of the 2014 field program and discussion about plans for the future. Team members will be available to respond to questions face-to-face during the community meetings and while present in the community, and by telephone or email the rest of the time. The fieldwork for this study will be conducted from February 5, 2014 to December 31, 2014.