Imperial Oil Resources Limited Cold Lake Expansion Project Volume 2 – Environmental Impact Assessment March 2016
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Imperial Oil Resources Limited Cold Lake Expansion Project Volume 2 – Environmental Impact Assessment March 2016 SECTION 16.0 – HISTORICAL RESOURCES TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE 16.0 HISTORICAL RESOURCES ......................................................................................16 -1 16.1 Introduction .....................................................................................................16 -1 16.1.1 Terminology .....................................................................................16 -2 16.2 Study Area ......................................................................................................16 -3 16.2.1 Spatial Boundaries ...........................................................................16 -3 16.2.2 Temporal Boundaries .......................................................................16 -3 16.3 Assessment Approach ....................................................................................16 -3 16.3.1 Issues ...............................................................................................16 -5 16.3.2 Assessment Criteria .........................................................................16 -5 16.3.3 Constraints Planning ........................................................................16 -6 16.4 Methods ..........................................................................................................16 -6 16.4.1 Record Review Data Sources ...........................................................16 -7 16.4.2 Evaluation of Historical Resource Potential ......................................16 -8 16.4.3 Baseline Field Assessment.............................................................16 -10 16.4.4 Post-field Studies ...........................................................................16 -12 16.5 Baseline Case ...............................................................................................16 -14 16.5.1 Background ....................................................................................16 -14 16.5.2 Results of Desktop Assessment ..................................................... 16-28 16.5.3 Results of Baseline Field Assessment ............................................ 16-38 16.5.4 Regulatory Approval .......................................................................16 -79 16.6 Application Case ...........................................................................................16 -79 16.6.1 Mitigation ........................................................................................16 -82 16.6.2 Summary ........................................................................................16 -82 16.7 Planned Development Case .........................................................................16 -83 16.8 Monitoring .....................................................................................................16 -83 16.9 Summary ......................................................................................................16 -83 16.10 References ...................................................................................................16 -84 Table of Contents – Page i Imperial Oil Resources Limited Cold Lake Expansion Project Volume 2 – Environmental Impact Assessment March 2016 TABLE OF CONTENTS (cont’d) PAGE LIST OF TABLES Table 16.5-1: Listed Lands within the Historical Resources Local Study Area .................... 16-29 Table 16.5-2: Previous Historical Resources Impact Assessment Studies within the Historical Resources Local Study Area .........................................................16 -31 Table 16.5-3: Previously Recorded Archaeological Sites within the Historical Resources Local Study Area...........................................................................................16 -34 Table 16.5-4: Previously Recorded Heritage Standing Structures in the Historical Resources Local Study Area .........................................................................16 -36 Table 16.5-5: Archaeological Sites Recorded or Revisited during Baseline Field Assessment ..................................................................................................16 -45 Table 16.6-1: Mitigation Summary ......................................................................................16 -82 Table 16.6-2: Application Case Effects Summary ...............................................................16 -83 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 16.2-1: Historical Resources Local Study Area Overview Map ....................................16 -4 Figure 16.5-1: Existing Historical Resources Overview Map ................................................ 16-32 Figure 16.5-2: Archaeological Potential Baseline Study Map ............................................... 16-39 Figure 16.5-3: HRIA Survey Results Northwest Portion of Project Area Overview Map ....... 16-40 Figure 16.5-4: HRIA Survey Results Northeast Portion of Project Area Overview Map ........ 16-41 Figure 16.5-5: HRIA Survey Results Southwest Portion of Project Area Overview Map ....... 16-42 Figure 16.5-6: HRIA Survey Results Southeast Portion of Project Area Overview Map ....... 16-43 Figure 16.6-1: Historical Resources Application Case Map .................................................. 16-81 Table of Contents – Page ii Imperial Oil Resources Limited Cold Lake Expansion Project Volume 2 – Environmental Impact Assessment March 2016 16.0 HISTORICAL RESOURCES 16.1 Introduction This section describes baseline status of historical resources within the Cold Lake Expansion Project area and also includes an assessment of project effects with respect to historic resources. In Alberta, historical resources are protected by the Historical Resources Act (HRA) (Government of Alberta 2000), which is administered by Alberta Culture and Tourism (CT). Under section 1(e) of the HRA, historical resources are defined as: any work of nature or of humans that is primarily of value for its palaeontological, archaeological, prehistoric, historic, cultural, natural, scientific or aesthetic interest including, but not limited to, a palaeontological, archaeological, prehistoric, historic or natural site, structure or object. Historical resources like archaeological and palaeontological sites, as well as historic structures, are finite and non-renewable. Since those resources within and near development areas may be negatively affected, CT requires screening of projects to ensure that conflicts are avoided and/or managed. Typically, the screening is initiated by the submission of a Historic Resources Application, but CT does not issue HRA requirements without a project footprint. Baseline historical resources assessment is part of the Terms of Reference for this project (Volume 3, Appendix A), but no project footprint was available when the assessment was initiated. As a result, the field assessment portion of this baseline study was completed in the absence of a requirement under the HRA. All project-related field assessments of historical resources are designated historical resources impact assessments (HRIAs), regardless of the purpose of the study. This section describes the results of the field HRIA and associated desktop record review for the project as part of the Baseline Case. Project effects on historical resources are assessed as part of the Application Case. Historical Resources within the Planned Development Case are no different from the Application Case. Since no known palaeontological sites or lands with palaeontological potential have been identified in the project area, no field assessment of palaeontological resources was undertaken. The HRIA for the project was conducted in compliance with the Alberta HRA under Archaeological Survey of Alberta Archaeological Research Permit (Permit) Number 13-207. The associated final report was submitted to CT on 8 August 2014 (Burford 2014). This HRIA meets the Terms of Reference for the project (Volume 3, Appendix A) (and also the requirements of the HRA and associated regulations and guidelines administered through CT). No HRA requirements have yet been issued by CT for the Cold Lake Expansion Project (the project). Page 16-1 Imperial Oil Resources Limited Cold Lake Expansion Project Volume 2 – Environmental Impact Assessment March 2016 16.1.1 Terminology Under the Alberta HRA, historical resources include archaeological sites and objects, palaeontological sites and objects and standing historic structures. Archaeology is the study of past human occupation, with specific reference to how and where people lived. In Canada, archaeologists focus on the period of time extending from the end of the Pleistocene Epoch (approximately 14,000 years ago) to approximately 100 years ago. Paleontology is the study of the evolution of all living things on earth. In Canada, these range from Precambrian blue green algae (greater than 2 billion years old) to Pleistocene fauna (as young as approximately 14,000 years old). Archaeological sites in Alberta are generally divided into three chronological categories: precontact, protohistoric and historic (or post-contact). Precontact sites date from approximately 12,000 years ago to A.D. 1500, and represent the period when only Aboriginal people were present. Sites typically yield artifacts reflecting the stone, bone and ceramic technologies these groups used, as well as animal and sometimes plant remains from food gathering and preparation activities. Site types include campsites dominated by evidence of domestic and habitation