Concern. Alberta Environment is in the process of finalizing Interim NOx Emission Guidelines that should apply to the Joslyn North Mine Project. The Fort XxXxx IRC was involved in the development of these Interim Guidelines with Alberta Environment and RIWG and believes they represent a very positive first step in slowing the increase in regional NOx emissions and better protecting Fort McKay’s air quality. Final NOx Emission Guidelines will be developed by 2009.
Concern. Community members are concerned about the effects that point and non-point source air emissions are having on the health of community members and the overall effects of industrial development on community health. In view of the many planned developments in the region, the Community perceives negative impacts to health and well-being in the Community of Fort XxXxx.
Concern. Community members are concerned about the health and safety effects related to smoke in the Community from companies clearing land and slash burning.
Concern. Fort XxXxx is concerned about the impact of the project on groundwater from the Joslyn North Mine Project. Fort XxXxx is also concerned about cumulative regional impacts on groundwater quality and quantity. They wish to have input into the monitoring plan, determination of thresholds for mitigation action and review of monitoring results.
Concern. Fort XxXxx is concerned about the potential impact of tailings ponds, including the proposed on birds. The IRC would like to review the current work of the Oil Sands Bird Protection Committee as well as recovery and monitoring results and studies of the effectiveness of deterrent measures.
Concern. Hydrocarbon and/or sulphur-based odour compounds affect the quality of life in the Community and contribute to health concerns. Odours are therefore an on-going concern for Fort XxXxx. Recent cumulative effects assessments have predicted odour events in Fort XxXxx to be much less than the actual measured values in Fort XxXxx, which raises questions regarding emissions estimates and/or the predictive ability of the dispersion models.
Concern. The Community believes that appropriate regional and company-specific monitoring is necessary for tracking current air quality, air quality events and determining regional trends.
Concern. The Community is concerned about cumulative effects of acidifying emissions and nitrogen eutrophication and the potential for future ground-level ozone issues. The Community supports the recommendations and strategies outlined in the CEMA Acidifying Emissions Management Framework (AMDF), the CEMA Ozone Management Framework (OMF) and the draft CEMA Nitrogen (Eutrophication) Management Framework (EMF).
Concern. The Community is concerned about impacts of the Joslyn North Mine on the fish and fish habitat in Joslyn Creek, the Xxxx River and small tributaries, in particular from the Joslyn Creek diversion. The community wants input into fish habitat compensation and monitoring. The community believes that water quality, sediment and benthic invertebrate monitoring is required during low-flow spring and fall to adequately define the baseline conditions and to detect impacts on the aquatic system.
Concern. The Community is concerned about the capability of the Project’s end pit lake to sustain aquatic life and develop water quality to an acceptable standard to Fort XxXxx. The Community is also concerned and potential impacts to the Xxxx River from end pit lake discharge.
