Atco Salt Cavern Storage Expansion Project
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ATCO SALT CAVERN STORAGE EXPANSION PROJECT Impact Assessment Agency of Canada Detailed Project Description March 31, 2021 DETAILED PROJECT DESCRIPTION ATCO SALT CAVERN STORAGE EXPANSION PROJECT CONTENTS INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................................ 1 PART A: UPDATED GENERAL INFORMATION .................................................................................................... 3 THE PROJECT’S NAME, TYPE OR SECTOR AND PROPOSED LOCATION .................................................. 3 PROPONENTS NAME AND CONTACT INFORMATION ............................................................................ 5 PART B: PLANNING PHASE RESULTS ................................................................................................................. 6 ENGAGEMENT WITH JURISDICTIONS OR AGENCIES ............................................................................. 6 ENGAGEMENT WITH INDIGENOUS GROUPS ........................................................................................ 9 REGIONAL ASSESSMENTS AND RELEVANT ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES .............................................. 16 STRATEGIC ASSESSMENTS ................................................................................................................... 18 PART C: PROJECT INFORMATION .................................................................................................................... 20 PROJECT PURPOSE AND NEED ............................................................................................................ 20 PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES REGULATION ..................................................................................................... 21 PROJECT ACTIVITIES AND PHYSICAL WORKS ...................................................................................... 22 9.1 New Infrastructure Associated with the Project ................................................................................................ 28 9.2 Existing Facilities ................................................................................................................................................. 31 9.3 Third Party Infrastructure ................................................................................................................................... 32 9.4 Description of Project Activities ......................................................................................................................... 32 9.5 Background: Underground Cavern Development and Operation ...................................................................... 43 ESTIMATED MAXIMUM PROJECT CAPACITY ....................................................................................... 46 PROJECT SCHEDULE ............................................................................................................................ 47 PROJECT ALTERNATIVES ...................................................................................................................... 48 PART D: LOCATION INFORMATION ................................................................................................................. 52 GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION .............................................................................................................. 52 DETAILED PROJECT DESCRIPTION ATCO SALT CAVERN STORAGE EXPANSION PROJECT PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT ................................................................................................................... 60 HEALTH, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CONTEXT ....................................................................................... 66 PART E: FEDERAL, PROVINCIAL, TERRITORIAL, INDIGENOUS AND MUNICIPAL INVOLVEMENT..................... 74 FINANCIAL SUPPORT FROM FEDERAL AUTHORITIES .......................................................................... 74 USE OF FEDERAL LANDS FOR PROJECT ............................................................................................... 74 JURISDICTIONS THAT HAVE POWERS, DUTIES OR FUNCTIONS IN RELATION TO AN ASSESSMENT OF THE PROJECT’S ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS. .................................................................................. 75 PART F: POTENTIAL EFFECTS OF THE PROJECT ............................................................................................... 86 POTENTIAL EFFECTS ON FISH AND FISH HABITAT, AQUATIC SPECIES AND MIGRATORY BIRDS .......... 86 POTENTIAL EXTRA-PROVINCIAL AND FEDERAL IMPACTS ................................................................... 95 IMPACTS TO INDIGENOUS GROUPS INCLUDING TRADITIONAL LAND USE, PHYSICAL AND CULTURAL HERITAGE, AND HISTORICAL, ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND PALAEONTOLOGICAL RESOURCES ................. 96 IMPACTS TO INDIGENOUS HEALTH, SOCIAL, AND ECONOMIC CONDITIONS ................................... 100 GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THE PROJECT .................................................... 107 WASTE AND EMISSIONS GENERATED BY THE PROJECT .................................................................... 110 REFERENCES ................................................................................................................................................. 117 DETAILED PROJECT DESCRIPTION ATCO SALT CAVERN STORAGE EXPANSION PROJECT TABLES Table 1: Jurisdictions, Agencies and Non-Indigenous Stakeholders Engaged by AES during the Initial Planning Phase ................. 7 Table 2: Indigenous Groups Engaged during the Initial Planning Phase and their Proximity to the Proposed Project ................. 11 Table 3: Components of Proposed Development ......................................................................................................................... 27 Table 4: Estimated Project Schedule ............................................................................................................................................. 47 Table 5: Cavern Development within 5 Kilometres of the Project ................................................................................................ 53 Table 6: Regional Temperature Extremes and Averages, 1981 - 2010 .......................................................................................... 61 Table 7: Regional Precipitation Extremes and Averages, 1981 - 2010 ........................................................................................... 61 Table 8: Solid Wastes Generated by the Project during Construction......................................................................................... 110 Table 9: Solid Wastes Generated by the Project during Operations ........................................................................................... 111 FIGURES Figure 1: Project Location ................................................................................................................................................................ 4 Figure 2: Site Plan .......................................................................................................................................................................... 23 Figure 3: Project Site ..................................................................................................................................................................... 24 Figure 4: Location of ATCO Lands and Salt Rights ......................................................................................................................... 25 Figure 5: Project Site, Local and Regional Assessment Areas as Presented in the Screening Assessment ................................... 26 Figure 6: Salt Cavern Development (to Scale) ............................................................................................................................... 29 Figure 7: Solution Mining Process (Not to Scale) .......................................................................................................................... 44 Figure 8: Cavern Development and Operation (Not to Scale) ....................................................................................................... 45 Figure 9: First Nations, Métis Settlements, and Local Communities ............................................................................................. 56 Figure 10: Energy Infrastructure, Occupied Residences, Private Water Wells, and Archaeological Sites ..................................... 57 Figure 11: Proximity to Schools, Seniors' Lodging and Recreational Sites .................................................................................... 58 Figure 12: Environmentally Significant Areas, Military and Federal Lands, and Airports .............................................................. 59 DETAILED PROJECT DESCRIPTION ATCO SALT CAVERN STORAGE EXPANSION PROJECT APPENDICES Appendix A – ATCO Summary of Responses to IAAC Summary of Issues .................................................................................... A.1 Appendix B – ATCO Salt Cavern Storage Expansion Project Screening Assessment ..................................................................... B.1 Appendix C – ATCO Salt Cavern Storage Expansion Project Greenhouse Gas Technical Data Report .......................................... C.1 Appendix D – Existing EPEA Approval 357248-00-01, as Amended ............................................................................................. D.1 Appendix E – Land Titles .............................................................................................................................................................