S (NGTL) North Corridor Expansion Project Environmental and Socio- Economic Assessment

Third-Party review of NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd.’s (NGTL) North Corridor Expansion Project Environmental and Socio- Economic Assessment

Prepared for Driftpile Cree Nation

December 2019

Prepared by:

207 Edgebrook Close NW Calgary, Alberta T3A 4W5 Canada

North Corridor Expansion ESA Review December 2019

List of Contributors

Vegetation, Wetlands, & Reclamation Dr. Sheri Gutsell

Aquatic Ecology Ms. Karilynn Simpson, M.Sc.

Wildlife & Wildlife Habitat Ms. Abbie Stewart, M.Sc., P. Biol.

Traditional Land and Resource Use Dr. Ave Dersch

Senior Review & Project Management Dr. Brian Kopach

Document Integration & Editing Ms. Abbie Stewart, M.Sc., P. Biol.

Driftpile Cree Nation Consultation Mr. Karl Giroux

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Executive Summary

The Driftpile Cree Nation (DCN) collaborated with Management and Solutions in Environmental Science (MSES) to review NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd.’s (NGTL) North Corridor Expansion Project (the Project) Environmental and Socio-Economic Assessment (ESA). MSES focused our review of the ESA on the assessment of potential impacts of the Project on Vegetation & Reclamation, Aquatic Ecology, Wildlife Ecology, Traditional Land and Resource Use, which are key areas of concern for DCN members.

The purpose of this report is to: • Assess the rigor of the impact assessment and follow-up programs for the disciplines listed above as presented by NGTL in the ESA; • Present recommendations that seek to fill the identified gaps in the impact assessment, and to ensure that the mitigation and monitoring of Project-related impacts will be effective.

Key recommendations for each discipline are as follows:

Vegetation, Wetlands & Reclamation a) The Canadian Energy Regulator (CER) should require NGTL to provide an estimate of the area needed for temporary workspace and infrastructure throughout the three proposed pipeline sections and compressor station. b) The CER should require NGTL to clarify how they will measure similarity in function between off-Project sites and post-construction wetlands in areas of temporary disturbance, particularly in terms of species richness and diversity. NGTL should also be required to clarify how they will define success in the re-establishment of wetland function, particularly in terms of plant species and plant communities. c) We recommend that the CER require NGTL to provide clear and direct evidence from the boreal forest to show that their planned mitigation measures in areas of “temporary disturbance” will result in reversible and non-significant impacts on wetland function. Specifically, NGTL should be required to show that post-construction wetland plant communities have a high similarity, in terms of species richness and diversity, to the wetland plant communities present prior to disturbance, or to those in adjacent wetland areas.

Aquatic Ecology a) We recommend NGTL collect baseline water quality data from all planned watercourse crossing locations, from both upstream and downstream sites. Water quality data should

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include analysis of parameters such as alkalinity, dissolved organic carbon, conductivity, metals (total and dissolved), hydrocarbons and Total Suspended Solids (TSS). b) The CER should require NGTL to collect baseline water quality data prior to construction, during winter. c) We recommend NGTL monitor beaver dam reconstruction and subsequent water quality parameters up and downstream of beaver dam removal sites. d) The CER should require NGTL to provide a water quality monitoring plan that details the locations of water quality monitoring sites, including up and downstream sampling locations at each watercourse crossing. Water quality data should include analysis of parameters such as alkalinity, dissolved organic carbon, conductivity, metals (total and dissolved), hydrocarbons and TSS. e) We recommend that water quality monitoring should occur at each watercourse for a minimum of 5 years following construction to determine if additional remediation of riparian habitat or watercourse crossings is required.

Wildlife & Wildlife Habitat a) We recommend that the CER direct NGTL to describe how their proposed Caribou Habitat Restoration and Offset Measures Plan (CHROMP) differs from typical caribou protection plans and standard best management practices and to demonstrate that the proposed mitigation measures have been effective at minimizing impacts to caribou. b) We recommend that the CER direct NGTL to provide proposed future caribou monitoring and management plans, including the Caribou Habitat Restoration and Offset Implementation Report (CHROIR) and the Caribou Habitat Restoration and Offset Measures Monitoring Plan (CHROMMP) and any other applicable plans, to DCN for review once they are available. c) As wood bison were not mentioned in the ESA, we recommend that the CER direct NGTL to discuss potential project impacts on wood bison and to develop species-specific mitigation measures that can be implemented or identify those mitigation measures that are already proposed that can minimize Project impacts on this Species at Risk. The Hidden Lake North Compressor Station Unit Addition falls within the Alberta Bison Protection Area. d) We recommend that CER encourage NGTL to make a commitment to provide DCN with sufficient time and capacity to review updated Environmental Protection Plans (EPPs) before finalization and prior to construction activities commencing. e) We recommend that the CER require NGTL to include quantitative monitoring of wildlife habitat use of revegetated or reclaimed sites in their post construction monitoring program to ensure that mitigation measures are effective from a wildlife perspective. f) We recommend that the CER require NGTL to collect appropriate, quantitative wildlife baseline data, prior to construction activities, that could be used to support post construction monitoring of wildlife habitat use.

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g) We recommend that the CER require NGTL to utilize systematic, quantitative methods to monitor mitigation measure effectiveness and evaluate wildlife impact prediction accuracy. h) We recommend that the CER require NGTL to provide DCN with clear, detailed information on whether and how their input has been “considered” and direct that there be regular engagement during the construction, operations and reclamation phases of the Project, so that the communities can ensure that their key concerns have been addressed in a meaningful way.

Traditional Land & Resource Use a) We recommend that the CER require NGTL to include ‘operations’ to the list of project activities that have the potential to result in effects on all categories of Traditional Land and Resource Use (TLRU) and discuss impacts from operations in Table 5.14-1 Mitigation for Potential Effects on Traditional Land and Resource Use (pages 5-235 to 237). b) Given that all Traditional Land and Resource Use Study (TLRUS) may not have been completed at the time of writing and because time and budgetary constraints may not always allow for comprehensive TLRUS, a conservative approach should be taken that assumes that all categories of traditional land and resource use sites and activities may be present in the Local Study Area (LSA). NGTL states themselves that there is an “inherent uncertainty associated with patterns and exact locations of where TLRU is conducted by all Aboriginal groups in the TLRU LSA and RSA” (pg. 5-241). Such a conservative approach should adhere to the recommendation made above (a). c) We recommend that the CER require NGTL to create a detailed monitoring program that clearly outlines how the effectiveness of mitigation strategies (specific to TLRU) will be assessed throughout construction and operations (e.g., if their communication strategies with Aboriginal land users are effective or need to be revised). d) All personnel of the Company, their Contractor(s) and subcontractors involved in construction must be enrolled in mandatory Aboriginal-led training on how to identity (at a high level) potential TLRU sites, heritage sites, or human remains and to familiarize them with the Cultural Resource Discovery Contingency Plan (CRDCP). This training would be facilitated by Aboriginal subject matter experts or a third party of their choosing. e) A Heritage Resource Specialist must be notified during Step 1 of the CRDCP. f) A clear outline of how NGTL will determine which Aboriginal groups to inform in the event of a Chance Find (when an archaeological site is found during construction, after archaeological clearance has been granted). g) The Heritage Resource Specialist must develop an appropriate mitigation plan in collaboration with the potentially effected Aboriginal groups, including Driftpile, as opposed to developing it independently, along with a requirement that the Heritage Resource Specialist review the plan with affected Aboriginal groups, including Driftpile.

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h) We recommend that the CER ask NGTL to consider a unique and appropriate Regional Study Area (RSA) for each Aboriginal community for their Assessment of Effects on Traditional Land and Resource Use.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

PAGE 1.0 INTRODUCTION ...... 1 1.1 Project Description ...... 1 1.2 Review Approach and Structure ...... 2 2.0 VEGETATION, WETLANDS & RECLAMATION ...... 2 2.1 General Comments ...... 2 2.2 Specific Comments ...... 2 2.2.1 Methods and Quantitative Analysis ...... 2 2.2.2 Monitoring Residual Impacts ...... 5 3.0 AQUATIC ECOLOGY ...... 6 3.1 General Comments ...... 6 3.2 Specific Comments ...... 7 3.2.1 Adequacy of Baseline Data ...... 7 3.2.2 Monitoring Residual Impacts ...... 8 4.0 WILDLIFE & WILDLIFE HABITAT ...... 9 4.1 General Comments ...... 9 4.2 Specific Comments ...... 10 4.2.1 Methods and Quantitative Analysis ...... 10 4.2.2 Monitoring Residual Impacts ...... 12 5.0 TRADITIONAL LAND & RESOURCE USE ...... 14 5.1 General Comments ...... 14 5.2 Specific Comments ...... 14 5.2.1 Methods and Quantitative Analysis ...... 14 5.2.2 Monitoring Residual Impacts ...... 15 6.0 LITERATURE CITED ...... 17

APPENDICES

APPENDIX A – MSES Personnel Resumes

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Acronyms

AWE Additional Written Evidence CER Canadadian Energy Regulator Caribou Habitat Restoration and Offset Implementation CHROIR Report Caribou Habitat Restoration and Offset Measures CHROMMP Monitoring Plan CHROMP Caribou Habitat Restoration and Offset Measures Plan CRDCP Cultural Resource Discovery Contingency Plan DCN Driftpile Cree Nation EPP Environmental Protection Plan ESA Environmental and Socio-Economic Assessment KWBZ Key Wildlife and Biodiversity Zones LAA Local Assessment Area LSA Local Study Area MSES Management and Solutions in Environmental Science Inc. MW Megawatt NCE North Corridor Expansion NGTL NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd. the Project North Corridor Expansion Project RAA Regional Assessment Area ROW Right-of-Way RSA Regional Assessment Area SARA Species at Risk Act TLRU Traditional Land and Resource Use TLRUS Traditional Land and Resource Use Study TSS Total Suspended Solids TWS Temporary Workspace

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1.0 Introduction The Driftpile Cree Nation (DCN) collaborated with Management and Solutions in Environmental Science (MSES) review NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd.’s (NGTL) North Corridor Expansion Project (the Project or NCE) Environmental and Socio-Economic Assessment (ESA). MSES focused our review of the ESA on the assessment of potential impacts of the Project on Vegetation & Reclamation, Aquatic Ecology, Wildlife Ecology, Traditional Land and Resource Use, which are key areas of concern for DCN members.

MSES technical experts have a range of experience in academic research, applied science, and/or assisting with the production, and technical review of, impact assessments. Please see Appendix A for technical expert resumes for details.

MSES notes that the analysis and recommendations contained in this report should not be understood to be an endorsement by DCN of the proposed Project or the mitigation measures identified by NGTL. However, MSES strongly encourages the CER to adopt, as recommendations of the CER in their Report on the Project, the measures identified in this report in order to minimize impacts of the Project on the traditional land use and resources of the DCN.

1.1 Project Description

The Project involves the construction and operation of three natural gas pipeline sections, 2 with a 1,219 and 1 with a 914 mm diameter (48 and 36 inches, respectively), totalling approximately 81 km, a compressor station unit addition and associated connectivity piping. The pipelines generally required a 32 m wide right-of-way and the Project will also require temporary facilities such as access roads, construction camps, borrow pits, slurry sites, stockpile yards and contractor yards. The North Star Section 2 pipeline is approximately 24 km in length and located 20 km north of the Town of Manning, Alberta. The Red Earth Section 3 pipeline is approximately 32 km in length and located 45 km north of the Hamlet of Red Earth Creek, Alberta. The Bear Canyon North Extension pipeline is approximately 25 km in length and located 50 km southwest of the Hamlet of Worsley, Alberta. The Hidden Lake North Unit Addition is a 30-megawatt (MW) compressor unit and is located approximately 100 km north of the Hamlet of Worsley, Alberta.

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The proposed Project is within Treaty 8 territory, of which DCN are original signatories, and where DCN (has in the past, currently, and desires to into the future) exercise their Section 35 rights including hunting, fishing, trapping, gathering, and other uses.

1.2 Review Approach and Structure

The MSES report is organized by discipline. Within each discipline, overarching observations are presented first, which can be discussed by a broad audience. This section is followed by specific technical comments and recommendations for the CER’s consideration.

2.0 Vegetation, Wetlands & Reclamation

2.1 General Comments

Areas of intact, native upland and wetland vegetation are important for traditional resource use, including the gathering of culturally important plants for consumption, medicines, and spiritual purposes, and as habitat for wildlife. A significant area of native vegetation will be permanently disturbed by the Project, along the right-of-way (ROW) and within the vicinity of the Compressor station, and temporarily, within workspaces adjacent to the ROW and in other areas with temporary infrastructure. The restoration of areas considered temporary disturbances is a critical part of vegetation mitigation for this Project because these are the only areas to be disturbed by the Project where there is a potential for eliminating or reducing the impacts on plant species and communities, including those of importance to support the continued exercise of Section 35 rights and other uses of DCN and other potentially affected Aboriginal groups. NGTL should be required to provide clear and direct evidence from the boreal forest to show that temporary disturbances are in fact temporary, and that their planned mitigation measures in areas of “temporary disturbance” will result in reversible and non-significant impacts on wetland function. NGTL should also be required to show, using statistical tools such as similarity indices, that post- construction wetland plant communities have a high similarity, in terms of species richness and diversity, to the wetland plant communities present prior to disturbance, or to those in adjacent wetland areas.

2.2 Specific Comments

2.2.1 Methods and Quantitative Analysis 1) Issue: Area of “temporary disturbance” not provided Reference: A98641-11 NCE_ESA_Sections1to4 - A6T2V6, Section 1-1, and page 1-1, Section 2.2, page 2-2. North Corridor Extension Project_ESA_Sec_5.8.2.4_Tables_5.8-3- 5.8-6_pg_5-99; C02981-4, DCN 2.3

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Comment: Construction of NGTL’s three pipeline sections and the Hidden Lake North Compressor station will result in the disturbance of a significant area of upland and wetland vegetation. The 81 km of pipeline will require a 32-m-wide ROW, within which there will be permanent changes in plant communities because the ground has been disturbed and trees and some shrubs will not be allowed to grow once construction is complete. The total permanent disturbance area within the ROW, including the compressor station, is approximately 266 ha. There are additional areas of disturbance outside of the ROW, referred to as temporary workspace (TWS), which includes space for bends, road and foreign line crossings, graded areas, and handling and storing soil material, and temporary infrastructure, which includes access roads, travel lanes, stockpile sites, borrow pits/dugouts, slurry sites, contractor yards, and construction campsites. The additional area considered temporary disturbance appears to be significant; however, it is not clear how much area this will include as no estimate was provided. Recommendation: a) The CER should require NGTL to provide a detailed estimate of the area needed for temporary workspace and infrastructure throughout the three pipeline sections and compressor station.

2) Issue: Questionable supportive evidence for conclusions of reversible and non-significant impacts on wetland function Reference: A98641-12 NCE_ESA_Sections5 - A6T2V7, North Corridor Extension Project ESA_Section 5.8.2.4, Tables 5.8-3 to 5.8-7, page 5-99, Section 5.8.3, Table 5.8-7 to 5.8-8, page 5-102; C02981-4, DCN 2.3 Comment: Construction of NGTL’s three pipeline sections and the Hidden Lake North Compressor station will result in the disturbance of a significant area (86.22 ha) of wetland plant communities, including bogs, fens, swamps, and marshes. In North Star Section 2, 18 wetlands will be crossed, covering 1.31 km or 5.5% of the pipeline route, with a total area of 3.23 ha. In Red Earth Section 3, 42 wetlands will be crossed, covering 19.4 km or 60.8% of the route, with a total area of 56.27 ha. In Bear Canyon North Extension, 21 wetlands will be crossed, covering 7.9 km 31.5% of the route, with a total area of 25.12 ha. The Hidden Lake North Compressor station will impact one wetland, covering 1.6 ha.

The above values include both permanent (ROW) and temporary (workspace/infrastructure) disturbances. It would be helpful to know how much of the area is in each, particularly given that in NGTL’s assessment of Project impacts on wetlands, “potential effects causing alteration of wetland function are identified in areas of temporary disturbance for the Project, including pipeline construction and temporary workspace/infrastructure for each Project component.” (page 5-102).

Areas of temporary workspace/infrastructure are considered temporary disturbances because it is assumed that once the area is no longer needed as workspace or for infrastructure, the pre-disturbance plant communities will become re-established. In areas of

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temporary disturbance within wetlands in the Project wetland Local Study Area (LSA), a variety of Project construction activities may cause changes in plant species composition, resulting in post-construction changes in the wetland community type. NGTL will employ what they describe as established and proven mitigation measures (Table 5.8-8) and construction practices to avoid or reduce potential residual effects on wetland function, which includes changes in plant species composition and wetland community type. They assessed the residual effects on wetland habitat function, hydrologic function, and biogeochemical function, as well as their combined effects. And they concluded that the implementation of mitigation will reduce residual Project effects, ensure they are within regulatory standards, and allow recovery of wetland habitat function in the medium- to long- term (for herbaceous wetlands and shrubby or woody wetlands, respectively), wetland hydrological function in the short-term, or medium-term (for wetlands where removal of woody vegetation may prolong the recovery of natural hydrologic regime), and wetland biogeochemical function in the short to long-term. NGTL concluded, with a high degree of confidence, that the effects of the Project on wetland function are reversible and not significant.

NGTL’s conclusions were supported by three reports prepared for the Gas Research Institute and conference proceedings (Shem et al. 1993, Van Dyke et al. 1994, and Zimmerman and Wilkey 1992), all of which are not peer-reviewed literature. The relevance of these studies to the Project in the boreal forest is questionable given that these studies were from within wetland plant communities in the United States, which are different in structure and function from those in the boreal forest. If NGTL has successfully reclaimed thousands of kilometres of pipeline ROWs, as they claim (in their IR response), it is not clear why they cannot provide clear and direct evidence from these past successes in the boreal forest.

The reclamation of areas considered temporary disturbances is a critical part of mitigation for this Project because these are the only areas to be disturbed by the Project where there is a potential for reducing or eliminating the impacts on plant species and communities, including those of importance for the protection of Section 35 rights and other traditional uses. It is important that NGTL commits to ensuring that after construction, temporary disturbances are indeed temporary. This means that these areas should have a high similarity, in terms of plant species richness and diversity to the wetland plant communities present prior to disturbance. Recommendation: a) We recommend that the CER require NGTL to provide clear and direct evidence from the boreal forest to show that their planned mitigation measures in areas of “temporary disturbance” will result in reversible and non-significant impacts on wetland function. Specifically, NGTL should be required to show that post-construction wetland plant communities have a

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high similarity, in terms of species richness and diversity, to the wetland plant communities present prior to disturbance, or to those in adjacent wetland areas.

2.2.2 Monitoring Residual Impacts 3) Issue: Unclear how NGTL will define the successful restoration of wetland function Reference: A98624-17 16 EDML_ESA_Appendix D_Post_Construction_Monitoring – A6T2G9, Post-Construction Monitoring Program for the Edson Mainline Expansion Project, Section 2.6, page 3; C02981-4, DCN 2.3 Comment: NGTL’s monitoring program will survey wetlands that are considered temporary disturbances to assess the progress of natural recovery of plant species and communities and “determine whether the affected area is similar in function to the surrounding off Project footprint (control) wetland system.” (page 3). The similarity in function of post- construction and control sites will be assessed by measuring a variety of characteristics, one of which is “vegetation cover – consistent species composition as compared to the control wetland areas.” (page 3). It is not clear what is meant by “consistent”. Does this mean similar? If so, how will similarity be measured? What threshold of similarity will be considered consistent?

It is not clear from the description of the monitoring program how NGTL will define the successful restoration of wetland function, particularly in terms of plant species and plant community composition. If temporary disturbances are in fact temporary, then one should expect to see the same or very similar plant species richness and diversity in pre- (or adjacent control) and post-construction sites. NGTL should be required to use quantitative tools in their monitoring program that includes measuring and comparing species richness and diversity in pre-construction (or adjacent control) and post-construction wetland sites. Quantitative tools such as similarity indices can be used to determine the similarity of pre- (or control) and post-construction sites. Clear and concrete targets of similarity that define the success of the restoration of wetland function are also needed, where success is measured by the establishment of a diversity of native plant species appropriate to the native plant community being reclaimed. Recommendation: a) The CER should require NGTL to clarify how they will measure similarity in function between off-Project sites and post-construction wetlands in areas of temporary disturbance, particularly in terms of species richness and diversity. NGTL should also be required to clarify how they will define success in the re-establishment of wetland function, particularly in terms of plant species and plant communities.

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3.0 Aquatic Ecology

3.1 General Comments

A total of 6 watercourse crossings are proposed in the NCE by NGTL. Watercourse crossings are planned for Notikewin River, Loon River, Hunt Creek, Bear Canyon Creek, and two unnamed tributaries, along with an unspecified number of smaller water bodies that lack defined bed or banks. Construction of the pipeline is to occur from Q3 2021 to Q4 2022.

In the ESA and the specific Environmental Protection Plans (EPPs), NGTL has provided the baseline information collected regarding watercourse characteristics (depth, width, bed composition etc.), and fish presence in each of the 6 watercourses and drainages crossed for the assessment, but only measured at one point in time (August). Water quality and fish habitat are discussed in the ESA; however, there is only a single data point for baseline comparison and no definitive monitoring plans for water quality, during or after construction.

The construction activities with the potentially largest impact on water quality are the planned watercourse crossings. The watercourse crossings include trenchless, dry open-cut and isolated crossing techniques. Increases in suspended sediments during construction may introduce compounds of potential concern to aquatic ecosystems. Increases in total suspended solids (TSS), dissolved organic carbon, dissolved oxygen levels or nutrients can have a negative impact upon fish and fish habitat by altering available food supplies and habitat structure. Further information is required by NGTL to reasonably quantify existing conditions and how the Project may alter fish habitat and water quality. Adequate baseline information is a critical foundation of post construction monitoring programs in order to assess the accuracy of impact predictions and to ensure that mitigation measures are effective.

Water Quality • The most significant potential impacts to water quality during construction will be from changes to suspended sediment loads. NGTL has measured turbidity visually only and has not measured TSS at the planned crossing sites as part of its baseline data collection. In order to compare with construction monitoring data and to test mitigation effectiveness, adequate baseline data is needed, including water quality data collected during the winter. • NGTL must consider the impacts that poor water quality can have on downstream fish habitat and should monitor water quality at all watercourses for a suite of water quality parameters around all water crossings during and after construction.

Fisheries and Aquatic Habitat • The potential effects of sedimentation on fish, fish habitat and water quality may be significant, yet no clear monitoring plan is in place for during or after construction to monitor mitigation effectiveness.

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3.2 Specific Comments

3.2.1 Adequacy of Baseline Data 4) Issue: Lack of winter baseline water quality data including a lack of data for total suspended solids Reference: A98641-12 NCE_ESA_Section5 - A6T2V7, Sections 5.3, 5.7; A98641-18 NCE_ESA_Appendices6to9 - A6T2W5, Appendix 6, pg. 9; A98641-14 NCE_ESA_Appendix1A_1B - A6T2V9; A98641-15 NCE_ESA_Appendix1C_1D - A6T2W2; C02981-4, DCN 2.1 Comment: Baseline information collected at a single point in time, August, has been provided for each watercourse and drainage to be crossed by the NCE Project. Construction of the NCE Project is slated to occur in the fall and winter. NGTL did not measure turbidity or total suspended solids (TSS) quantitatively using instrumentation at the planned crossing sites as part of its baseline data collection. Water clarity was assessed visually. Many of the mitigation measures regarding water quality focus on increases in sediment to the water column, as outlined in the EPPs (Appendices 1A-1D). Mitigation measures for spills of drilling fluid also utilize assessments of TSS, although the measurement technique is unspecified. However, baseline data collected during the summer can not be used in a before and after comparison for the Project impacts as construction is to occur in the winter. Comparisons of TSS to visual water clarity will not provide the rigour necessary to comply with water quality guidelines as outlined by CCME (2002, 2007).

In addition, there are numerous water quality parameters that provide information for assessing water quality other than TSS. Considering the potential for spills of fuel, drilling mud and the erosion of potentially contaminated soils into water courses, detecting the potential for Project related impacts on water quality requires the collection of more than TSS. Without seasonally representative baseline information the ability of NGTL to determine mitigation effectiveness is limited. Several of the stream crossings will likely be frozen to bottom during the winter. Seasonally appropriate baseline information for the flowing streams, such as the Notikewin River, Loon River, Bear Canyon Creek, and Hunt Creek should be collected. Recommendation / Request: a) We recommend NGTL collect baseline water quality data from all planned watercourse crossing locations, from both upstream and downstream sites. Water quality data should include analysis of parameters such as alkalinity, dissolved organic carbon, conductivity, metals (total and dissolved), hydrocarbons and TSS. b) The CER should require NGTL to collect baseline water quality data prior to construction, during winter.

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3.2.2 Monitoring Residual Impacts 5) Issue: Removal of Beaver Dams Reference: A98641-12 NCE_ESA_Section5 - A6T2V7 pg. 45-47, 85-89; A98641-14 NCE_ESA_Appendix1A_1B - A6T2V9, pgs. 37, 238; A98641-15 NCE_ESA_Appendix1C_1D - A6T2W2, pg. 37; A98641-19 NCE_ESA_Appendices10to12 - A6T2W6, pg. 165; C02981-4, DCN 2.2 Comment: The construction of the Project crosses many beaver dam impounded drainages as noted throughout the ESA. Mitigation measures involving the removal of the beaver dams to facilitate construction of the Project focus on slow breaches in order to reduce the erosional and water sediment impacts of beaver dam removal. Monitoring of the water quality in these areas will be important in order to determine if mitigation measures were sufficient or if remediation of the beaver dams is required. Concerns regarding alterations to water quality in light of beaver dam removals have been raised by the Peavine Métis (Appendix 11, page 165). However, there are no apparent plans to monitor beaver dam reconstruction and subsequent retention of the ecosystem services provided by beaver dams to water quality. Recommendation / Request: a) We recommend NGTL monitor beaver dam reconstruction and subsequent water quality parameters up and downstream of beaver dam removal sites.

6) Issue: Monitoring of Water Quality Data for Mitigation Effectiveness Reference: A98641-13 NCE_ESA_Sections6to9 - A6T2V8, pgs. 49, 86, 163; A98641-14 NCE_ESA_Appendix1A_1B - A6T2V9, pgs. 52, 253; A98641-15 NCE_ESA_Appendix1C_1D - A6T2W2, pg. 51; C02981-4, DCN 2.2 Comment: NGTL has indicated that there will be water quality monitoring during and after construction. However, there are no details on how, where or when the water quality testing will occur. NGTL provided proposed monitoring for the trenchless crossing of Loon River without supporting details. It is important to monitor the water quality in all the watercourses, regardless of crossing method (i.e. trenched and trenchless), during and after construction to ensure that mitigation measures are successful in preserving the quality of water and fish habitat. As some of the stream crossings and drainages will likely be frozen to the bottom during construction, monitoring plans should be in place for areas with anticipated flow such as the Notikewin River, Loon River, Hunt Creek and Bear Canyon Creek. Post construction monitoring should be included for all drainages and crossings. Recommendation / Request: a) The CER should require NGTL to provide a water quality monitoring plan that details the locations of water quality monitoring sites, including up and downstream sampling locations at each watercourse crossing. Water quality data should include analysis of parameters such as alkalinity, dissolved

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organic carbon, conductivity, metals (total and dissolved), hydrocarbons and TSS. b) We recommend that water quality monitoring should occur at each watercourse for a minimum of 5 years following construction to determine if additional remediation of riparian habitat or watercourse crossings is required.

4.0 Wildlife & Wildlife Habitat

4.1 General Comments

With respect to caribou, NGTL recognizes that development within woodland caribou ranges is not desired and requires a substantial amount of attention to mitigation measures that would minimize residual impacts. While NGTL intends to restore caribou habitat and has developed a Caribou Habitat Restoration and Offset Measures Plan (CHROMP) to begin the process of managing impacts to caribou, a great deal of uncertainty remains. After decades of caribou management in Alberta involving the implementation of best management practices and mitigation and monitoring plans, the decline in caribou populations continues. The most effective mitigation measures for caribou are those that maintain caribou habitat and reduce the need for habitat restoration (CLMA and FPAC 2007, Schneider et al. 2010; Hervieux et al. 2013). It is not clear how NGTLs proposed caribou management differs from past caribou protection plans and standard best management practices implemented in Alberta.

NGTL completed additional wildlife field surveys in May and June of 2019, including amphibian, yellow rail, short-eared owl/common nighthawk, breeding bird, and ground search surveys. Information from these surveys should inform the Project assessment conclusion and mitigation measures associated with the Project. These field surveys resulted in the identification of evidence of wood bison, a threatened, Schedule 1 Species at Risk Act (SARA)-listed species, at the Hidden Lake North Compressor Station Unit Addition. NGTL did not provide any discussion regarding Project impacts on wood bison, nor potential mitigation measures that might be necessary. This is relevant because The Hidden Lake North Compressor Station Unit Addition falls within the Alberta Bison Protection Area (AEP & ACA 2017). NGTL stated that the EPPs will be updated at some point in the future, prior to construction, but it is not clear whether the timeline will allow DCN sufficient opportunity to provide input to the EPPs.

With respect to wildlife post construction monitoring, NGTL’s response to one of our Round 2 Information Requests indicates that they have no plans to monitor wildlife habitat use as the ultimate measure of success for wildlife habitat restoration. The exception is with respect to caribou where NGTL appears to be proposing a more quantitative approach to monitoring habitat restoration and offset initiatives. However, the details of the monitoring approach are not

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yet available and should be present in the forthcoming Caribou Habitat Restoration and Offset Measures Monitoring Plan (CHROMMP).

The following overarching issues need to be addressed so that a more meaningful understanding of wildlife impacts and the associated management of impacts can be developed:

• A description of how the CHROMP differs from past caribou protection plans and standard best management practices in the Alberta should be provided. • The opportunity for DCN to review future caribou planning documents, including the Caribou Habitat Restoration and Offset Implementation Report (CHROIR) and the CHROMMP, must be provided. • A discussion regarding potential Project impacts on wood bison and the identification of any relevant mitigation measures should be provided. • The opportunity for DCN to review updated EPPs before their finalization and prior to construction must be provided. • Quantitative monitoring of wildlife habitat use of revegetated or reclaimed areas needs to be implemented in order to demonstrate the effectiveness of these efforts from a wildlife perspective; this includes the collection of quantitative wildlife baseline data, prior to construction, in support of the monitoring program. • Systematic, quantitative methods should be applied to monitor wildlife mitigation measure effectiveness and evaluate the accuracy of wildlife impact predictions. • Future engagement activities on Project-related materials must provide clear, detailed information on whether and how DCN input has been incorporated, and there must be regular engagement during the construction, operations and reclamation phases of the Project, so that DCN can ensure that their key concerns have been meaningfully addressed.

4.2 Specific Comments

4.2.1 Methods and Quantitative Analysis 7) Issue: Assessment of Residual Effects Reference: A98641-12 NCE_ESA_Section5 – A6T2V7, Section 5.10.5; C02981-4 Response to Driftpile Cree Nation IR No. 2 - A6Z9F6; C02981-4, DCN 2.4 Comment: NGTL was asked to describe and clarify where natural regeneration will be permitted such that early seral stage habitat suitable for moose will be present versus where restoration of vegetation communities will occur such that habitat suitable for moose will not be present. That is, it is not clear if the vegetation communities will provide suitable moose habitat, in support of minimizing impacts of habitat loss on moose, or if the vegetation communities will NOT provide suitable moose habitat, in support of minimizing impacts on caribou mortality.

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NGTL indicated that conifer seedlings are to be planted within caribou range where conifer occur prior to construction and where soil conditions are amenable to seedling planting. This is anticipated to re-establish coniferous forest habitat as quickly as possible, thereby minimizing impacts on caribou. Despite the focus on conifer planting in these areas, NGTL acknowledges that suitable moose forage species are also likely to regenerate in these areas naturally, over the medium term. In addition, a 12 m wide right-of-way (ROW) along the operating pipeline will be maintained in earlier seral stages over the life of the Project. Therefore, while NGTL will make efforts to plant coniferous species to minimize the value of forage to moose, there is still expected to be a period of time where moose forage will be present. NGTL suggests that this stage with moose forage will still minimize impacts to caribou mortality by minimizing predation risk along linear features by reducing predator movements.

NGTL’s response makes it clear that while efforts will be made to restore caribou habitat, there will be residual impacts on caribou (acknowledged by NGTL, ESA Section 5.10.5). NGTL has developed a CHROMP to tackle residual impacts. However, a history of caribou mitigation and monitoring plans in Alberta generally has not halted the decline in caribou, let alone reversed it (CLMA and FPAC 2007, Schneider et al. 2010; Hervieux et al. 2013). The Red Earth caribou population is very unlikely to be self-sustaining and has been declining since monitoring began in 1999 (GoA 2017). Any further contribution to disturbance in caribou ranges contributes to the current decline of caribou. The most effective mitigation measures for caribou are those that maintain caribou habitat and reduce the need for habitat restoration. Recommendations: a) We recommend that the CER direct NGTL to describe how their proposed CHROMP differs from typical caribou protection plans and standard best management practices and to demonstrate that the proposed mitigation measures have been effective at minimizing impacts to caribou. b) We recommend that the CER direct NGTL to provide proposed future caribou monitoring and management plans, including the CHROIR and the CHROMMP and any other applicable plans, to DCN for review once they are available.

8) Issue: Mitigation Measures Reference: A98641-12 NCE_ESA_Section5 – A6T2V7, Section 5.10.2.5; C02981-4 Response to Driftpile Cree Nation IR No. 2 - A6Z9F6, DCN 2.5; C01488-1 North Corridor Expansion Project Additional Written Evidence - A6X5R1, Section 8.2.2, Table 8-3; C02981- 4, DCN 2.5

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Comment: In the ESA, NGTL indicated that they conducted field surveys to identify wildlife species and site-specific habitat and habitat features and conducted diurnal amphibian surveys. NGTL stated that additional targeted wildlife species surveys were planned for the spring and summer of 2019. NGTL completed amphibian, yellow rail, short-eared owl/common nighthawk, breeding bird, and ground search surveys in May and June of 2019. In the ESA, NGTL indicated that information from these surveys would be reviewed relative to the Project assessment conclusions and any appropriate mitigation measures would be incorporated into an update to the EPP. In their Additional Written Evidence (AWE), NGTL indicated that the EPPs will be updated “prior to construction, as warranted. However, no additional mitigation measures beyond those presented in the ESA and Project-specific EPPs are warranted based on the results of the 2019 wildlife surveys” (C01488-1, Section 8.2.2, p. 8-2). The spring 2019 field survey summary (C01488-1, Section 8.2.2, Table 8-3, p. 8-3) lists evidence of wood bison, a threatened, Schedule 1 SARA species, at the Hidden Lake North Compressor Station Unit Addition. It does not appear that this species was mentioned in the ESA or draft EPP even though the compressor station falls within the Alberta bison Protection Area (AEP & ACA 2017). While NGTL does commit to ongoing engagement with Aboriginal communities, including DCN, it is not clear that the proposed timeline for updating the EPPs will allow DCN sufficient opportunity to review and provide input regarding any updates. Recommendation: a) As wood bison were not mentioned in the ESA, we recommend that the CER direct NGTL to discuss potential Project impacts on wood bison and to develop species-specific mitigation measures that can be implemented or identify those mitigation measure that are already proposed that can minimize Project impacts on this Species at Risk. b) We recommend that CER encourage NGTL to make a commitment to provide DCN with sufficient time and capacity to review updated EPPs before finalization and prior to construction activities commencing.

4.2.2 Monitoring Residual Impacts 9) Issue: Monitoring Reference: A98641-13 NCE_ESA_Sections6to9 - A6T2V8, Section 8.1.6; C02981-4 Response to Driftpile Cree Nation IR No. 2 - A6Z9F6, DCN 2.6; C02981-4, DCN 2.6 Comment: NGTL has indicated that several elements of the physical environment, including landscape, vegetation, soils, watercourses, and wetlands will be monitored. Presumably this information would contribute to their understanding of wildlife habitat restoration. NGTL was asked to describe any wildlife-specific monitoring programs that they will implement and any baseline data that would be used to support them. In response, NGTL said that they “will address monitoring the success of restoration of wildlife habitat” (C02981-4, DCN 2.4) and identified wetland field work and vegetation community classifications as sources of baseline

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data to inform them about wetland habitat function and revegetation success. NGTL’s response indicates that they have no plans to monitor wildlife habitat use as the ultimate measure of success for wildlife habitat restoration. NGTL also indicated that they will be reporting sightings of wildlife and monitoring open trenches for entrapped wildlife during construction. Reporting of wildlife sightings provides incidental information only and cannot be used in a quantitative manner to monitor Project effects or mitigation effectiveness. The monitoring of open trenches will minimize construction-related impacts to wildlife but will not contribute to ensuring that wildlife mitigation measures will alleviate wildlife impacts from the Project over the long term.

With respect to caribou, NGTL appears to be proposing a more quantitative approach to monitoring habitat restoration and offset initiatives, although details are not yet available (they will be detailed in the forthcoming CHROMMP). NGTL has committed to “continue to consider relevant input provided by Aboriginal groups, including DCN, during ongoing engagement for the Project throughout the finalization of the Caribou Habitat Implementation Plan and the CHROMMP for the Project” and that “Any information brought forward through ongoing engagement regarding adoption and implementation of mitigation measures will be considered in Project planning, including the CHROMP as appropriate” (C02981-4, DCN 2.4). Recommendation: a) We recommend that the CER require NGTL to include quantitative monitoring of wildlife habitat use of revegetated or reclaimed sites in their post construction monitoring program to ensure that mitigation measures are effective from a wildlife perspective. b) We recommend that the CER require NGTL to collect appropriate, quantitative wildlife baseline data, prior to construction activities, that could be used to support post construction monitoring of wildlife habitat use. c) We recommend that the CER require NGTL to utilize systematic, quantitative methods to monitor mitigation measure effectiveness and evaluate wildlife impact prediction accuracy. d) We recommend that the CER require NGTL to provide Aboriginal communities with clear, detailed information on whether and how their input has been “considered” and direct that there be regular engagement during the construction, operations and reclamation phases of the Project in any future engagement, so that the communities can ensure that their key concerns have been addressed in a meaningful way.

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5.0 Traditional Land & Resource Use

5.1 General Comments

In general, we found that NGTL does not address the full scope of potential impacts (i.e., operations) on Traditional Land and Resource Use (TLRU). Further to this, it is not clear how they will evaluate if their mitigation of impacts to TLRU are successful or how they will adapt if mitigations are ineffective. NGTL’s regional assessment area is too small thus not allowing for impacts at the local scale to be evaluated within the context of larger land use patterns (e.g., is the LSA a highly significant area within a community’s broader territory). Finally, NGTL’s Cultural Resource Discovery Contingency Plan (CRDCP) lacks meaningful inclusion of Aboriginal communities.

5.2 Specific Comments

5.2.1 Methods and Quantitative Analysis 10) Issue: Lack of consideration of impacts on TLRU from Project operations Reference: A98641-12 NCE_ESA_Section 5 - A6T2V7, pg. 5-229 to 230; C02981-4 Response to Driftpile Cree Nation IR No. 2 - A6Z9F6; C02981-4, DCN 2.7 Comment: In presenting potential Project effect pathways for TLRU (see Table 15.14-1), NGTL does not include (check off) impacts from Project operations on: trails and travel- ways, habitation sites, hunting activities, fishing activities, trapping activities, and gathering places and sacred sites (in many of their Project segments/components). In doing so NGTL is ignoring the following impact pathways during operations: • impacts from vegetation management on traditionally used plants and water sources • impacts on wildlife from use of the ROW by non-Aboriginal big game hunters • impacts on fish from use of the ROW by non-Aboriginal recreationalists who cross water courses with off-highway vehicles • impacts at occupancy locales as a result of vandalism, theft, and safety concerns related to non-Aboriginal recreationalists using the ROW

Not surprisingly these impacts are absent from Table 5.14-3 Project Interactions and Potential Effects on Traditional Land and Resource Use (pages 234-235). Recommendations: a) We recommend that the CER require NGTL to include ‘operations’ to the list of Project activities that have the potential to result in effects on all categories of TLRU and discuss impacts from operations in Table 5.14-1 Mitigation for Potential Effects on Traditional Land and Resource Use (pages 5-235 to 237).

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b) Given that all Traditional Land and Resource Use Studies (TLRUS) may not have been completed at the time of writing and because time and budgetary constraints may not always allow for comprehensive TLRUS, a conservative approach should be taken that assumes that all categories of traditional land and resource use sites and activities may be present in the LSA. NGTL states themselves that there is an “inherent uncertainty associated with patterns and exact locations of where TLRU is conducted by all Aboriginal groups in the TLRU LSA and RSA” (page 5-241). Such a conservative approach should adhere to the recommendation made above (a).

11) Issue: Regional Assessment Area is too small. Reference: A98641-11 NCE_ESA_Sections 1 to 4 - A6T2V6, Table 4.2-1, pg. 4-7; C02981- 4 Response to Driftpile Cree Nation IR No. 2 - A6Z9F6; C02981-4, DCN 2.9 Comment: NGTL describes the Regional Study Area (RSA) for the TLRU assessment as including a 15km buffer around each Project component footprint. The RSA as defined appears to be based on the RSA used for wildlife and wildlife habitat. In order to contextualize how impacts at the local scale will impact an Aboriginal community’s broader system and network of traditional land and resource use the RSA must correspond to an Aboriginal community’s core use area or traditional territory (and thus be unique to each Aboriginal community). As it stands the RSA is based solely on biophysical environmental parameters. Recommendations: a) We recommend that the CER require NGTL to consider a unique and appropriate RSA for each Aboriginal community for their Assessment of Effects on Traditional Land and Resource Use.

5.2.2 Monitoring Residual Impacts 12) Issue: It is not clear how the effectiveness of NGTL’s mitigation strategies will be assessed throughout construction and operations. Reference: A98641-12 NCE_ESA_Section 5 - A6T2V7, Table 5.14-1, pgs. 5-235 to 5-237; C02981-4 Response to Driftpile Cree Nation IR No. 2 - A6Z9F6; C02981-4, DCN 2.8 Comment: In section 5.14.4 ‘Monitoring’ NGTL states that their mitigation is “based on engagement with Aboriginal groups, experience gained from other pipeline projects with similar conditions and the professional experience of the assessment team” (page 5-235). However, it is not clear how the effectiveness of many of NGTL’s mitigation strategies will be assessed throughout construction and operations. For example, in Table 5.14-1 NGTL cites communication as a major strategy to mitigate potential effects but makes no mention of how they will evaluate if their communication strategies are effective or need to be revised.

For example, NGTL intends to “[p]rovide potentially affected Aboriginal Groups with the proposed Project construction schedule and maps” (pg. 5-236), but it is unclear how NGTL will determine if the right land users are receiving this information and if they are understanding the schedule

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and maps. Another example includes NGTL’s intention to “[n]otify registered trappers at least 10 days prior to construction” (pg. 5-237). Unfortunately, it is unclear how NGTL will determine if trappers are receiving their mail in time to be notified about construction, or how they will ensure that trappers understand the content of the notification. Ten days notice is not enough time for community members to get their mail. Furthermore, giving more time may not be a solution because, in some cases, mail does not make it to the intended recipient, or the recipient may not be able to read English. Recommendations: a) We recommend that CER require NGTL to create a detailed monitoring program that clearly outlines how the effectiveness of mitigation strategies (specific in regards to TLRU) will be assessed throughout construction and operations (e.g., if their communication strategies with Aboriginal land users are effective or need to be revised).

13) Issue: Cultural Resource Discovery Contingency Plan (CRDCP) lacking some elements Reference: A98641-14 NCE_ESA_Appendix1A_1B - A6T2V9, Appendix 1E, pgs. 1E-23 to 1E-24; C02981-4 Response to Driftpile Cree Nation IR No. 2 - A6Z9F6; C02981-4, DCN 2.10 Comment: A CRDCP is a detailed plan that explicitly outlines the actions and communication protocol to be followed in the event that an archaeological site is found during construction after archaeological clearance has been granted. NGTL states that their CRDCP applies to all personnel of the Company, their Contractor(s) and subcontractors. However, it is unlikely that untrained personnel could identify potential TLRU sites, heritage sites, or human remains.

Step 1 includes the immediate notification of the Environmental Inspector who then notifies the Company’s Construction Manager and Environmental Advisor. It is not until Step 2 of the CRDCP (and only at the advice of the Environmental Advisor) that a Heritage Resource Specialist is consulted.

In Step 3 (TLRU) the Heritage Resource Specialist will develop an appropriate mitigation plan in consultation with the Environmental Advisor and then review the strategy with potentially effected Aboriginal groups. Recommendations: We recommend that the CER require NGTL to improve their CRDCP as follows: a) All personnel of the Company, their Contractor(s) and subcontractors involved in construction be enrolled in mandatory Aboriginal-led training on how to identity (at a high level) potential TLRU sites, heritage sites, or human remains and to familiarize them with the CRDCP. This training would be facilitated by Aboriginal subject matter experts or a third party of their choosing.

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b) A Heritage Resource Specialist be notified during Step 1 of the CRDCP. c) A clear outline of how NGTL will determine which Aboriginal groups to inform in the event of a Chance Find (when an archaeological site is found during construction, after archaeological clearance has been granted). d) The Heritage Resource Specialist develops an appropriate mitigation plan in collaboration with the potentially effected Aboriginal groups, including Driftpile, as opposed to developing it independently, along with a requirement that the Heritage Resource Specialist review the plan with affected Aboriginal groups, including Driftpile.

6.0 Literature Cited AEP (Alberta Environment and Parks) and ACA (Alberta Conservation Association). 2017. Status of the American Bison (Bison bison) In Alberta: Update 2017. Alberta Environment and Parks. Alberta Wildlife Status Report No. 38 (Update 2017). Edmonton, AB. 134 pp. Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME). 2002. Canadian Water Quality Guides for the Protection of Aquatic Life: Total Particulate Matter in Canadian Environmental Guidelines. 1999. Updated: 2002. Winnipeg, Manitoba. 13 pg. Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME). 2007. Canadian Water Quality Guidelines for the Protection of Aquatic Life: Summary Table in Canadian Environmental Quality Guidelines. 1999. Update 7.1. Winnipeg, Manitoba, 9 pg. Caribou Landscape Management Association (CLMA) and Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC). 2007. Audit of Operating Practices and Mitigation Measures Employed within Woodland Caribou Range. Prepared by: P. Bentham, Golder Associates, Edmonton, AB. Prepared for: CLMA and FPAC, Peace River, Alberta. GoA (Government of Alberta). 2017. Draft Provincial Woodland Caribou Range Plan. Website: https://open.alberta.ca/dataset/932d6c22-a32a-4b4e-a3f5- cb2703c53280/resource/3fc3f63a-0924-44d0-b178-82da34db1f37/download/draft- caribourangeplanandappendices-dec2017.pdf Hervieux, D., M. Hebblewhite, N.J. DeCesare, M. Russell, K. Smith, S. Robertson, and S. Boutin. 2013. Widespread declines in woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) continue in Alberta. Canadian Journal of Zoology 91, 872-882. Schneider, R.R., G. Hauer, W.L. Adamowicz, and S. Boutin. 2010. Triage for conserving populations of threatened species: the case of woodland caribou in Alberta. Biological Conservation 143: 1603-1611. Shem, L.M., R.E. Zimmerman, S.D. Zellmer, G.D. Van Dyke and J.R. Rastorfer. 1993. Regeneration of Vegetation on Wetland Crossings for Gas Pipeline Rights-of-way One Year After Construction. Proceedings of the Fifth International Symposium on Environmental Concerns in Rights- of-Way Management. Montreal, Quebec. Van Dyke, G.D., L.M. Shem, P.L. Wilkey, R.E. Zimmerman and S.K. Alsum. 1994. Pipeline Corridors

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through Wetlands - Summary of Seventeen Plant-Community Studies at Ten Wetland Crossings. Prepared for Gas Research Institute. Argonne, Illinois. Zimmerman, R.E. and P.L. Wilkey. 1992. Pipeline Corridors through Wetlands. Proceedings of the International Gas Research Conference, Orlando, FL. H.A. Thompson (ed.). Rockville, Maryland: Government Institutes Inc.

Appendix A

MSES Personnel Resumes

Sheri L. Gutsell, Ph.D. Plant Ecology, Reclamation, and Fire Ecology

Overview Dr. Gutsell is a plant ecologist and an environmental consultant. She has published scientific articles in prestigious journals, presented talks at conferences on forest dynamics and wildfires, and reviewed scientific manuscripts and books. As an environmental consultant, she has conducted environmental impact assessments and third-party reviews of environmental impact assessments, approvals, terms of references and regulatory framework policies. In her expert review capacity, she routinely reviews regulatory applications for their scientific rigour, specifically conservation and reclamation plans and project impacts on vegetation and wetlands. Dr. Gutsell has also produced technical documents on a variety of topics, including trends in biodiversity, plant species distribution, and the effects of herbivory, drought, and wildfire on trees.

Key experience • Third party technical reviews of the Terms of Reference, Environmental Impact Assessments, Application Approvals, and Annual Monitoring Reports for vegetation and reclamation, including wetlands, forestry, rare and sensitive plant species and communities, traditional- use plant species, and old-growth forests. • Scientific advisor to the Aboriginal Review Group for Japan Canada Oil Sands Limited Hangingstone Project, Alberta, Canada. • Developed a research project in collaboration with the Aboriginal Review Group to investigate methods of increasing the number of native plant species that re-establish within reclamation sites. • Developed information requests and expert reports on behalf of First Nations for submission to the National Energy Board (NEB).

• Provided expert testimony on behalf of Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation regarding gaps and concerns in conservation and reclamation plans provided by Shell for the Jackpine Mine Expansion Project hearing.

• Provided expert testimony on behalf of Saulteau First Nation regarding gaps and concerns in mitigation reclamation plans proposed by BC Hydro for the Site C Project hearing. • Provided expert testimony on behalf of West Moberly First Nation regarding gaps and concerns in mitigation reclamation plans proposed by NGTL for Towerbirch Expansion Project hearing. • Developed vegetation and reclamation mitigation measures and recommendations for Environmental Protection Plans. • Collected data and produced technical report for the vegetation and wetland component of an Environmental Impact Assessment for a highway twinning project. • Collected data and produced technical report for the vegetation and wetland components of several Environment Screening Reports and Biophysical Reports for road and residential projects in Alberta. • Conducted vegetation surveys that include ELC classification and non-native and rare plant surveys.

Employment Experience 2007 - present MSES Inc.: Environmental Consultant

2002 – 2004 Alpine Environmental Ltd. Environmental Consultant

2001 – 2004 University of Calgary Science Writer

Education

1995 – 2001 Ph.D., Plant population and community ecology, University of Calgary 1991 – 1994 M.Sc., Plant population and community ecology, University of Calgary 1987 – 1991 B.Sc., Ecology, University of Calgary

Scholarly Publications

Publications in Peer-Reviewed Journals

Gutsell, S.L. and E.A. Johnson. 2002. Accurately ageing trees and examining their height growth rates: implications for interpreting forest dynamics. Journal of Ecology 90:153-166. Gutsell, S.L., E.A. Johnson, K. Miyanishi, J.E. Keeley, M. Dickinson, and S.R.J. Bridge. 2001. Correspondence: Varied ecosystems need different fire protection. Nature 409:977. Gutsell, S.L. and E.A. Johnson. 1996. How fire scars are formed: coupling a disturbance process to its ecological effect. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 26: 166-174. Johnson, E.A. and S.L. Gutsell. 1994. Fire frequency models, methods and interpretations. Advances in Ecological Research 25:239-287. Johnson, E.A., and S.L. Gutsell. 1993. Heat budget and fire behaviour associated with the opening of serotinous cones in two Pinus species. Journal of Vegetation Science 4(6):745-750.

Book Chapter Gutsell, S.L. and E.A. Johnson. 2007. Wildfire and tree population processes. In Plant disturbance ecology: the process and the response. E.A. Johnson and K. Miyanishi (eds.). Academic Press.

Refereed Publications

Gutsell, S.L. and E.A. Johnson. 2001. Understanding old-growth forests using stand level processes. Supplement to Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America 82(4). Gutsell, S.L. and E.A. Johnson. 2001. Understanding forest dynamics in the context of a fire-dominated landscape. North American Forest Ecology Workshop Gutsell, S.L. and E.A. Johnson. 1999. Examining a critical assumption of methods used to infer patterns of forest succession. Supplement to Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America 80(4). Gutsell, S.L. and E.A. Johnson. 1994. The mechanisms of fire scar formation. Supplement to Bulletin of the

Ecological Society of America 75(2):84. Gutsell, S.L. and E.A. Johnson. 1993. A heat budget model for opening of serotinous cones in Pinus banksiana and Pinus contorta var. latifolia. Supplement to Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America 74(2):261.

Other Publications (Non-Refereed)

Gutsell, S.L. 2005. Ecology Research Connections. Kananaskis Field Stations publication. University of Calgary, Calgary, AB. Gutsell, S.L. 2003. Trees and Forests of the Kananaskis: Barrier Lake Forestry Trails. Interpretive Trail Guide. Kananaskis Field Stations publication. University of Calgary, Calgary, AB. Johnson, E.A., Miyanishi, K., Gutsell, S.L., Dickinson, M.B., and Revel, R. 2000. Lightning, lightning fires and fire frequency. Research Links. Parks Canada. Gutsell, S.L. and E.A. Johnson. 1998. What can be learned about forest dynamics from the age distribution th of trees? In: Tested Studies for Laboratory Teaching: Proceedings of the 19 workshop/conference of the Association for Biology Laboratory Education (ABLE). S.J. Archer (ed). June 10-14, 1997. University of Calgary. Calgary, AB.

External Reviews

Book Reviews for Scientific Journals

Gutsell, S.L. 1996. The Ecology of Fire, by R.J. Whelan. Cambridge University Press. 1995. In: The New Phytologist 134(2):387. Gutsell, S.L. and E.A. Johnson. 1992. Atlas of the Vascular plants of the island of Newfoundland and of the islands of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, by E. Rouleau et G. Lamoureux. In: Cartographica 30(4).

Manuscript Reviews for Scientific Journals

Australian Journal of Ecology, Canadian Journal of Forest Research, Ecology, Ecoscience, Forest Science, International Journal of Wildland Fire, Journal of Applied Ecology, Restoration Ecology

Conference Abstracts (Non-Refereed)

Gutsell, S.L. and E.A. Johnson. 1999. Testing the assumptions of methods used to infer patterns of forest succession. In: Proceedings of Science and Practice: Sustaining the Boreal Forest. Networks of Centres of Excellence in Sustainable Forest Management. Edmonton, AB. 14-17 February. Gutsell, S.L. 1998. Analysis of cohort life tables for upland tree species in the southern mixedwood boreal forest of Saskatchewan, Canada. In: Proceedings of the Western Student Workshop. Networks of Centres of Excellence in Sustainable Forest Management. University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB. 2-3 October. Gutsell, S.L. and E.A. Johnson. 1998. Analysis of cohort life tables for upland tree species in the southern

mixedwood boreal forest of Saskatchewan, Canada. In: Proceedings of the VII International Congress of Ecology. A. Farino, J. Kennedy, V. Bossu. (eds.). Florence, Italy. 19-25 July. Gutsell, S.L. 1995. The affects of fire suppression in the North American boreal forest. In: Conference on Sustaining Biodiversity in the Boreal Forest. Edmonton, AB. 29-31 January. Gutsell, S.L. and E.A. Johnson. 1994. The mechanisms of fire scar formation. In: Proceedings of the VI International Congress of Ecology. J.H. Hallis, H.J. Norman, R.A. Benton (eds.). Manchester, England. 21-26 th August. Gutsell, S.L. and E.A. Johnson. 1994. The mechanisms of fire scar formation. In: Program of the 30 Annual Meeting of the Canadian Botanical Association. 26-30 June. Gutsell, S.L. and E.A. Johnson. 1992. A heat budget model for opening of serotinous cones in Pinus banksiana and Pinus contorta var. latifolia. In: Workshop on Disturbance Dynamics in boreal Forest. Umeå, Sweden. 10-14 August.

Invited Lectures & Workshops Gutsell, S.L. La dynamique des peuplements locaux et paysage de la forêt boréale. Dépt. des sciences fondamentales, Univ. du Québec à Chicoutimi. October, 1998. (Invited lecture) Gutsell, S.L. and E.A. Johnson. Forest dynamics in the boreal forest of Saskatchewan. Workshop in tree regeneration in the boreal forest. Networks of Centres of Excellence in Sustainable Forest Management. Montreal, Quebec. April 1998. (Invited workshop) Gutsell, S.L. Large fire years: cause and meaning. U.S. Forest Service Workshop. University of Washington, Seattle, Washington. 17-19 April, 1996. (Invited workshop) Gutsell, S.L. National workshop on wildland fire activity in Canada. Canadian Forest Service Workshop. Edmonton, AB. 1-4 April 1996. (Invited workshop) Gutsell, S.L. 1995. The affects of fire suppression in the North American boreal forest. Conference on Sustaining Biodiversity in the Boreal Forest. Edmonton, AB. 29- 31 January. (Invited lecture)

Technical Reports

Dr. Gutsell has contributed to numerous technical reviews and scientific advice pertaining to vegetation, reclamation and wetland disciplines for various mines, SAGD, pipeline, hydroelectric and other development projects on behalf of First Nations. A few recent examples include:

MSES Inc. (2014) TransMountain Pipeline ULC National Energy Board (NEB) Application for the TransMountain Expansion Project – Information Request (IR) No. 1 to TransMountain. Prepared for Adams Lake Indian Band. MSES Inc. (2014) Review of the Imperial Oil Resources Ventures Limited Application for Approval of the Aspen SAGD Project. Prepared for the Mikisew Cree First Nation and Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation. MSES Inc. (2014) Technical Review of the Application for the Meikle Wind Energy Project. Prepared for Saulteau First Nations, West Moberley First Nations and McLeod Lake Indian Band. MSES Inc. (2013) Deer Mountain Land Use Plan (Part 1)- Regional Disturbance Analysis of WMU 350. Prepared for Swan River First Nation.

MSES Inc. (2013). Third-party Review of the BC Hydro Site C Impact Assessment: Recommendations for Proposed Mitigation Measures for Vegetation. Prepared on behalf of the Saulteau First Nation. MSES Inc. (2013). Technical Review of the EIA Report for the Northcliff Resources Ltd. Sisson Mine Project. Prepared for St. Mary’s First Nation, Woodstock First Nation, and the Assembly of First Nations Chiefs of New Brunswick. Awards

1997 Canadian Botanical Association’s J.S. Rowe Award - Honourable Mention for the best paper in plant ecology published by a Canadian student (awarded for: Gutsell, S.L. and E.A. Johnson. 1996. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 26:166-174.)

Teaching Experience

Courses Developed and Taught

2002 Terrestrial Communities and Ecosystems (4th year undergraduate course), University of Calgary (17 lectures) 2001 The Organization and Diversity of Life (1st year undergraduate course), University of Calgary (12 lectures) 1998 Understanding landscape-scale patterns of plant community composition (4th year undergraduate course), University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka (5 lectures) 1997 What can be learned about forest dynamics from the age distribution of trees? (4th year undergraduate lab exercise), Workshop of the Association for Biology Laboratory Education, University of Calgary (1-day field and lab exercise) 1995 Fire frequency, methods, models and interpretation (graduate course), 6th North American Fieldweek, University of Calgary (5-day field and lab exercise)

Teaching Assistant – University of Calgary

1998 – 1999 Conservation Biology (4th year course)

1992 – 1995 Terrestrial Ecology (4th year course)

1992 – 1996 Ecology and Evolution (2nd year course)

1991 Biology (1st year course)

Karilynn Simpson, M.Sc. Population and Aquatic Ecology

Overview

Ms. Simpson is a trained population ecologist with academic research experience in both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems in Alberta. She has experience in designing ecological studies, and in the collection and analysis of data for both vegetation and aquatic studies. She has led, or assisted with, research projects relating to invasive species and population dynamics in a series of experimental and field systems. Ms. Simpson earned a Master’s degree in Population Ecology from the University of Calgary (Canada) where her research examined the influence of spatial nutrient heterogeneity on invasive rates of spread of periphyton in experimental streams. She has also conducted research for an Honours BSc. Project examining rates of spread of Smooth Brome in experimental, terrestrial environments.

Key Projects

• Prepared and reviewed ground-based wildlife camera data for Talus Environmental for the Elk Valley Regional Monitoring Program, B.C. Data were used in annual wildlife monitoring program reports developed on behalf of Teck. • Developed student examinations for Biological Statistics Course at the University of Calgary. Examinations were used in undergraduate programming within the Department of Biological Sciences. • Data analyst for periphyton abundances and water quality in the South Saskatchewan River Basin, Alberta. Data and results were used to support ongoing analysis of the Bow River and Red Deer River periphyton for the Alberta Water Research Institute through the University of Calgary. • Laboratory Manager for the University of Calgary Aquatic Ecology Lab operated by Dr. Ed. McCauley. Compiled methods for maintaining aquatic cultures and standard laboratory procedures. Maintained lab equipment, arranged equipment replacement, service, and repair. • Created a non-destructive sampling method to examine relative proportions of algal groups based on pigment expression for use in both MSc. Research and creating baseline periphyton data for the Alberta Water Research Institute through the University of Calgary. • Designed and executed an experimental stream system to study the effect of spatial heterogeneity on invasions in streams (MSc. Research). • Designed and executed an experimental study on rates of invasion for Smooth Brome in homogeneous and heterogeneous environments (Honours BSc. Research).

Employment Experience

Aug 2019 – present University of Calgary, Alberta: Research Assistant for Biostatistical Course June 2019 Chelsie’s Garden Solutions: Gardener June 2018 – Jan 2019 Talus Environmental (Subcontractor): Ecologist Jan 2007 – April 2009 University of Calgary, Alberta: Research Associate for water quality, water quantity and population dynamics in rivers. Lab Manager for aquatics lab. Sept 2003 – April 2006 University of Calgary, Alberta: Teaching Assistant and Laboratory Instructor for biostatistics. April 2002 – Oct 2002 Hydroqual Laboratories: Laboratory Technician (LD-50 testing in soils and aquatics) April 2001 – Dec 2001 University of Calgary: Research, Laboratory, & Field Assistant for population dynamics in terrestrial environments involving grasslands and Wood Nymph Butterflies. Jan 2000 – Aug 2000 Environmental Services, Public Works and Government Services Canada: Environmental Technical Assistant. Data collection and Environmental Site Assessments. April 1999 – Aug 1999 University of Calgary: Research Assistant for pollinator foraging dynamics in Rufous Hummingbirds.

Education

2007 M.Sc. in Population Ecology, University of Calgary 2002 B.Sc. (Honours) in Ecology, University of Calgary

Publications

Simpson, K. L. et al. 2008. Spatial heterogeneity and rates of spread in experimental streams. Oikos 117: 1491-1499.

Presentations

Simpson, K. and F.E.R. McCauley. 2006. Spatial heterogeneity and rates of spread in experimental streams. Ecological Society of America, Memphis, United States. Simpson, K. and F.E.R. McCauley. 2006. Spatial heterogeneity and spread in experimental streams. Prairie University Biological Symposium, Calgary, Canada.

Simpson, K. and E. Crone. 2002. Rates of spread of Smooth Brome. Prairie University Biological Symposium, Edmonton, Canada.

Volunteer Experience

Sept 2019 – present Science Club W.O. Mitchell: Coach April 2019 – present Calgary Youth Science Fair: Judge Sept 2017 – present W.O. Mitchell School Council: Secretary Sept 2016 – June 2019 Girl Guides of Canada: Leader Sept 2013 – present Silver Springs Preschool, W.O Mitchell School: Parent volunteer

Abbie Stewart, M.Sc., P. Biol. Wildlife & Landscape Ecologist, Science Advisor

Overview

Ms. Stewart is a terrestrial ecologist with more than fifteen years of academic and environmental consulting experience in wildlife biology. Ms. Stewart has routinely worked with Aboriginal communities and their membership in a variety of capacities including field team lead, scientific advisor, workshop and meeting facilitator, and research collaborator. She has substantial experience producing EIAs, conducting third party reviews, leading academic research projects, and giving lectures on wildlife impact assessment. She has considerable experience conducting and leading field surveys in the Oil Sands region of Alberta and the Northwest Territories and has allocated a large portion of her time to data management and analysis of regional and landscape scale disturbances.

As a project manager of large multi-disciplinary EIA reviews, she has assimilated information from discipline expert reviewers with a focus on developing integrated reports that address the questions and concerns of either Aboriginal communities or review boards. She has also completed technical reviews including those for oil sands and diamond mine applications, wildlife monitoring reports, hydroelectric applications, and oil sands annual reports and has functioned as an expert witness. Ms. Stewart earned a Master’s degree in Landscape Ecology from the University of Calgary (Canada) where she assessed landscape analysis methodology and the concept of ecological thresholds in habitat amount. Her experience extends to projects occurring in the Northwest Territories, the Alberta Oil Sands Region, New Brunswick, Manitoba, British Columbia, and southern Alberta.

Key Experience

• Project manager and ecological advisor for numerous multi-disciplinary, independent technical reviews of EIAs, Terms of Reference, and Approvals on behalf of multiple Aboriginal groups within Alberta and Manitoba – involves Aboriginal community pre- and post- review workshops, critical assessment and technical writing, multi- disciplinary report compilation, and integration of key Aboriginal issues of concern. • Project manager and author for disturbance mapping and change analysis reporting on behalf of multiple First Nations communities in Alberta and New Brunswick. Involves analysis and reporting to assist First Nations in understanding and visualizing what their traditional lands look like now, how the land has changed over the past 20+ years, and predictions of future scenarios and changes to critical traditional resources. • Regularly completes expert technical review, produces Information Requests (IRs), reviews proponent responses for adequacy, summarizes outstanding information gaps, and provides expert witness testimony regarding large hydroelectric, mining and infrastructure projects on behalf of Indigenous groups across Canada. • Assess a variety of environmental documents including, but not limited to, provincial and federal Terms of Reference, Environmental Assessments, Approval Conditions, wildlife management and monitoring plans (e.g. Diavik diamond mine wildlife monitoring reports), and government resource management frameworks (e.g. Alberta’s Draft Biodiversity Management Framework (BMF)) on behalf of management boards and/or Indigenous groups. • Manage and conduct wildlife surveys for impact assessments for a variety of development projects including oil sands developments, residential communities, transportation enhancement projects, a limestone quarry project, and the Mackenzie gas pipeline project. Duties include the collection of wildlife data in order to establish baseline conditions, development of empirical wildlife habitat models to evaluate project-specific effects on valued wildlife

species, technical writing to present results, and recommendations for appropriate mitigation measures to minimize project impacts to wildlife and wildlife habitat.

Key Projects • Wildlife technical expert and lead researcher for the completion of spatial analyses of landscape disturbance on behalf of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation, Alberta, Canada (2018 - ongoing). Requires expert witness testimony and critical evaluation of Proponent submissions. • Wildlife technical expert and lead researcher for the completion of spatial analyses of disturbance to moose, caribou, and fisher habitat, and an analysis of impacts to the moose and caribou populations using Population Viability Analyses (PVA) on behalf of the Fort McKay First Nation, Alberta, Canada (2016 - 2018). Provided expert witness testimony and critical evaluation of Proponent submissions. • Project manager and ecological advisor to the Athabasca Chipewyan and Mikisew Cree First Nations for the independent technical review of Teck Resources Frontier Project Application materials, Alberta, Canada (2012 – 2018). Managed multidisciplinary teams of scientists to review project application, application update, and associated information requests to inform industry and regulators about community concerns. • Lead researcher for a regional landscape analysis of areas of greatest intensity of land and resource use for the Maliseet Nation of New Brunswick, Canada (2016). • Ecological advisor to the Environmental Monitoring Advisory Board, Diavik Diamond Mine, NWT (2008 – ongoing). Provide critical evaluation of annual wildlife monitoring reports for the Diavik Diamond Mine Project on behalf of the Environmental Monitoring Advisory Board. • Wildlife technical expert for the technical review of Manitoba Hydro’s Bipole III Transmission Project and ongoing participation in Metis engagement process for the Environmental Protection Plans, Manitoba, Canada (2012 – 2015). Provided technical review of Application material relating to wildlife and associated expert witness testimony. • Project coordinator and team member for Advisory Team to the Environmental Impact Review Board (EIRB) for the Inuvik-Tuktoyaktuk Highway Project, NWT, Canada (2010-2013). Managed environmental and socioeconomic experts in the review of regulatory application materials and provision of expert advice to the EIRB regarding the highway project. • Project Manager, field crew lead, and wildlife bio-statistical analyst for Environmental Assessment for the Highway 43 Twinning Project, Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation Reserve 154, Alberta, Canada (2008-2009). • Co-author, field crew lead, and wildlife bio-statistical analyst for the Environmental Impact Assessment for the Parson’s Creek Resource Extraction Facility, Ft. McMurray, Canada (2007-2008). • Field crew lead and wildlife bio-statistical analyst for the Environmental Impact Assessment for the Mackenzie Valley Pipeline, NWT, Canada (2003 – 2004).

Employment Experience 2005 – present Wildlife & Landscape Ecologist/Project Manager/Science Advisor, MSES Inc., Calgary, AB 2005 – 2005 Teaching Assistant & Laboratory Instructor, University of Calgary, AB 2004 – 2004 Teaching Assistant & Laboratory Instructor, University of Calgary, AB 2001 – 2004 Wildlife Ecologist, AXYS Environmental Consulting Ltd., Calgary, AB 2000 – 2000 Environmental Technician, The City of Calgary, Calgary, AB 1999 – 1999 Laboratory & Field Assistant, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB

(Department of Biological Sciences) Education 2007 Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Landscape Ecology, University of Calgary, Canada. 2001 Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Ecology (co-op), University of Calgary, Canada.

Affiliations Member Alberta Society of Professional Biologists (ASPB) Member The Wildlife Society Member International Association for Landscape Ecology (IALE) Member International Association of Impact Assessment (IAIA)

Select Publications and Presentations (*indicates Peer Reviewed) *Stewart, A., and P.E. Komers. 2017. Conservation of wildlife populations: factoring in incremental disturbance. Ecology and Evolution 00: 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.3015..

*Stewart, A., and P.E. Komers. 2012. Testing the ideal free distribution hypothesis: Moose response to changes in habitat amount. ISRN Ecology 2012: 8pp.

Stewart, A. 2011. Environmental Science 401. Guest Lecturer, University of Calgary, Alberta.

*Stewart, A., P.E. Komers, and D.J. Bender. 2010. Assessing landscape relationships for habitat generalists. Ecoscience 17(1): 25-36.

*Komers, P.E, A. Stewart, S. Gavin, S. Hechtenthal, T. Whidden and Z. Stanojevic. 2010. Participatory Management in the Canadian Oil Sands. Proceedings of the 2010 IAIA Conference.

*Stewart, A. 2007. The Effects of Habitat Amount and Fragmentation on Ungulates in the Alberta Foothills Natural Region: Mosaic versus Binary Perspectives. Masters of Science Thesis, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Calgary.

*Stewart, A. 2007. The influence of landscape resource heterogeneity on ungulates. Oral presentation at the US Chapter of the International Association of Landscape Ecology, Tucson, AZ, USA (April 9-13th, 2007).

*Stewart, A. 2007. On Ungulate Resource Use in a Mosaic Landscape. Poster presentation at the Alberta Chapter of the Wildlife Society, Canmore, Alberta (March 18-21st, 2007).

*Stewart, A. 2007. The Effects of Habitat Amount and Fragmentation on Ungulates in the Alberta Foothills Natural Region: Mosaic versus Binary Perspectives. Oral (exit seminar) presentation at the University of Calgary, Alberta (March 14th, 2007).

Stewart, A. 2006. Environmental Science 401. Guest Lecturer, University of Calgary, Alberta.

Stewart, A. 2006. The Effect of Landscape Scale Disturbance on the Abundance and Distribution of Ungulates. Prairie University Biological Symposium, University of Calgary, Alberta.

Co-Authored Reports (Selected)

Third-Party Technical Reviews of Environmental Documents

MSES. 2018. Effects on Traditional Resources of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation: The Syncrude MLX Application. Prepared for Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation. December 2018.

MSES. 2017. Habitat and Population Viability Analyses for the Moose Lake Area – the Prosper Petroleum Ltd. Rigel Project. Prepared for the Fort McKay First Nation. June 2017.

MSES. 2017. Review of the draft OSCA Approval Conditions for the Canadian Natural Resources Tailings Management Plan Application. Prepared for the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation. September 2017.

MSES. 2017. Key Issues and Mitigation Measures: Teck Resources Limited Frontier Oil Sands Mine Project. Prepared for the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation IRC. August 2017.

MSES. 2017. Review of Teck Responses to the Joint Review Panel Information Requests (Package 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8 & 9) – Frontier Oil Sands Mine Project. Prepared for the Mikisew Cree First Nation GIR and the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation IRC.

MSES. 2017. A Review of the 2016 Diavik Diamond Mine Wildlife Monitoring Report. Prepared for the environmental Monitoring Advisory Boards, NWT, Canada. Included review of 2017 Comprehensive Wildlife Analysis Report. June 2017.

MSES. 2016. Review of the 2015 Project Update and Responses by Imperial Oil Resources Ventures Limited to the Joint ACFN/MCFN Technical Review for the Aspen Project 2013 Application. Prepared for the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation IRC and Mikisew Cree First Nation GIR. (Biodiversity technical review)

MSES. 2016. Review of the Teck Responses to the First Nation Project Update and Round 4 SIR Technical Review and to Regulator Round 5 SIRs for the Frontier Project. Prepared for the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation IRC and Mikisew Cree First Nation GIR. August 2016.

MSES. 2015. Technical Review of Trans Canada’s Energy East Pipeline Project. Prepared for the Frog Lake First Nation. March 2015.

MSES. 2015. Technical Review of the Draft Biodiversity Management Framework. Prepared for the Mikisew Cree First Nation GIR and Cold Lake First Nations. January 2015.

MSES. 2012. Technical Summary of Biophysical and Socio-economic Issues: Tuktoyaktuk Highway Review. Prepared for the Environmental Impact Review Board. November 2012.

ACFN & MCFN. 2012. Technical Sufficiency Review of Teck Resources Ltd. Integrated Application for the Frontier Oil Sands Project. Prepared in coordination with ACFN and MCFN. May 2012.

MSES. 2011. A Review of the 2011 Diavik Diamond Mine Risk Assessment for Caribou Exposure to Metals from Dust Deposition to Lichen. Prepared for the Environmental Monitoring Advisory Board. December 2011.

MSES. 2011. A Review of the 2010 Diavik Diamond Mine Wildlife Monitoring Report. Prepared for the environmental Monitoring Advisory Boards, NWT, Canada. Review of Statistical Procedures – Abbie Stewart.

MSES. 2010. Recommendations for Changes to Alberta’s Regulatory System. Prepared for the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation, Alberta, Canada.

MSES. 2009. Wildlife Information Requests for the Taltson Hydroelectric Expansion Project. Prepared for Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board, NWT, Canada. Review of baseline report – Abbie Stewart.

MSES 2008. Review of the East Athabasca Highway Project Environmental Assessment Report. Prepared for the Mikisew Cree First Nation Industrial Relations Corporation (IRC), Alberta, Canada. (Review and Integration)

Regulatory Hearing Participation

MSES. 2018. Effects on Traditional Resources of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation: The Syncrude MLX Application. Prepared for Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation. December 2018.

MSES. 2017. Habitat and Population Viability Analyses for the Moose Lake Area: The Prosper Petroleum Ltd. Rigel Project. Prepared for the Fort McKay First Nation. June 2017.

MSES. 2015. Swan River First Nation - Written Evidence - National Energy Board - Review of Appendix 9-1 Preliminary Caribou Habitat Restoration and Offset Mitigation Plan [dated September 2015]. Prepared for the Swan River First Nation and Bigstone Cree Nation. November 2015.

MSES. 2013. Ungulate Information Gaps: The Keeyask Generation Project. Prepared for the Manitoba Metis Federation. November 2013.

MSES. 2012. Ungulate Information Gaps: The Bipole III Transmission Line Project. Prepared for the Manitoba Metis Federation. November 2012.

MSES. 2010. Environmental Impact Statement Terms of Reference for the Environmental Impact Review of the Hamlet of Tuktoyaktuk, Town of Inuvik and YT – Construction of the Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk Highway, Northwest Territories Development Proposal. Prepared for the EIRB.

Land Use Planning and Management

MSES. 2016. Regional Landscape Analysis for the Maliseet Nation of New Brunswick. Prepared for the Maliseet Nation of New Brunswick. December 2016.

MSES. 2015. Effect on Traditional Resources of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation (update). The Teck Frontier Integrated Application. Prepared for the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation. March 2015.

MSES. 2014. Regional Disturbance Analysis of Frog Lake First Nation Traditional Territory. Prepared for Frog Lake First Nation. November 2014.

MSES. 2012. Effects on Traditional Resources of the Athabasca Chipewyan and Mikisew Cree Frist Nations. The Teck Frontier Integrated Application. Prepared for the Athabasca Chipewyan and Mikisew Cree First Nations. April 2012.

MSES. 2011. Effects of Industrial Disturbance on the Traditional Resources of the Swan River First Nation. Prepared for the Swan River First Nation. December 2011.

Environmental Assessment and Environmental Monitoring

MSES. 2016. Summary of Findings for the Spring Migratory Bird Survey – KS Canada 2 Ltd Solar Project, Three Hills, Alberta. Prepared for ARCADIS Canada Inc. July 2016.

MSES. 2014. Reconnaissance Biophysical Survey Report for the Gull Lake Project. Prepared for GS Communities. September 2014.

MSES. 2011. Lakewood Meadows Project Biophysical Impact Assessment Report. Prepared for Skyscape Management Inc. September 2011.

MSES. 2011. Deer River Estates Project Environmental Overview. Prepared for Deer River Projects Inc.

MSES and ARA 2009. Environmental Assessment Screening Report - Highway 43 Twinning – Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation Reserve 154. Prepared for Alberta Transportation, Alberta, Canada. (Project Manager and Author)

MSES 2008. Highway Rehabilitation Project (multiple intersection reports) – Environmental Screening Reports. Prepared for ARA Engineering Inc., Calgary, AB. (Co-Project Manager and Author).

MSES 2008. Ribstone Ranch Project Amphibian Survey. Prepared for Westhoff Engineering Resources Inc., Calgary, Alberta. (Author)

MSES 2008. Environmental Screening & Environmental Protection Plan for Highway 22:18 Climbing Lane Project. Prepared for ARA Engineering Inc., Alberta, Canada. (Author)

MSES 2007. Wildlife Impact Assessment Report for the Parsons Creek Resources Project. Part A: Wildlife Baseline. Prepared for Millenium EMS Solutions Ltd., Alberta, Canada. (Author)

Mackenzie Project Environment Group (MPEG). 2003. Infrastructure and Granular Resources Wildlife Technical Field Report – Production Area and Pipeline Corridor. Prepared for Imperial Oil Resources Ventures Ltd., Aboriginal Pipeline Group, ConocoPhillips Canada (North) Resources Limited, Shell Canada Ltd. and ExxonMobil Canada Properties. Calgary, AB. pp. 1-107 pp. Authorship: A. Dennis (release date unknown

Ave Dersch, Ph.D. Traditional Knowledge & Traditional Land Use

Overview

Dr. Dersch is the Principal of Moccasin Flower Consulting and has 15 years of experience working with Indigenous communities in the fields of traditional land and resource use, archaeology, and community-based monitoring of traditional lands and resources. She began working with Indigenous communities in 2002 while conducting ethnoarchaeological research for her M.A. in northwestern Saskatchewan. In 2011, she completed her Ph.D. in archaeology and biological sciences from the University of Calgary documenting past and present traditional land and resource use with a First Nation in northcentral Alberta. Currently, Dr. Dersch works with First Nations in Alberta, B.C., New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia to complete traditional land and resource use studies in both terrestrial and marine settings; these studies are key components of regulatory environmental assessments and project-specific consultation. Dr. Dersch is also a contributor to technical peer reviews conducted on behalf of various Indigenous groups across Canada. She currently sits on the University of Alberta’s Senate as well as Alberta’s Oil Sands Monitoring Community- Based Monitoring and Integration Committees.

Key Projects and Clients Moccasin Flower Consulting Inc. Current • Chipewyan Prairie Dene First Nation: project-specific traditional knowledge studies, technical reviews, BEAHR Program Delivery (Environmental Monitoring Coordinator Program- Research Specialization), Crown consultation files (Oil Sand Monitoring and shared stewardship of Wildland Parks), Community Based Monitoring curriculum development (grades 4-9) as well water, fish, berries, beaver, eDNA, and wetlands monitoring projects, OSM Strategic Plan • Wolastoqey Nation of New Brunswick: project-specific traditional knowledge studies, Strategic Rights Plan looking to restore and enhance rights, FNECP funded study looking at effects of glyphosate on moose tissues and on contaminants on lobster and scallops in the Bay of Fundy • Alexander First Nation: project-specific traditional knowledge studies and environmental monitoring for on reserve oil and gas project • MSES Inc.: technical reviews of the heritage resources and traditional land use sections of EIAs for nations within Treaty 8 Alberta and B.C., Treaty 6, Treaty 7, and the Wolastoqey Nation of New Brunswick • Montana First Nation: project-specific traditional knowledge studies and field technician training • Millbrook First Nation: project-specific traditional knowledge study

Moccasin Flower Consulting Inc. Past • Swan River First Nation: project-specific traditional knowledge studies, preparation of Statements of Concern, agreements and negotiations, hearing preparations, annual youth/elder environmental monitoring programs (berries, medicine, water, snow, moose, fish, rabbits, and grouse) environmental management, supervision of community environmental monitors, youth/elder archaeological excavations under research permits • Cold Lake First Nations: archaeological advisor • Beaver Lake First Nation: project-specific traditional knowledge studies

• Bigstone Cree Nation: project-specific traditional knowledge studies • Driftpile First Nation: project-specific traditional knowledge studies, preparation of Statements of Concern, hearing preparations, environmental management, supervision of community environmental monitors • Sawridge First Nation: project-specific traditional knowledge studies • Kapawe’no First Nation: presentations at annual consultation retreat for industry • Sucker Creek First Nation: principal investigator of NFNECP funded project- ‘Investigating Fish Quality in Lesser Slave Lake’ • Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation: provided Information Requests and Expert reports for AltaLink and Coalspur hearing processes • Madawaska Maliseet, Woodstock, and St. Mary’s First Nation: traditional knowledge studies for the Northcliff Sisson Mine, New Brunswick

FMA Heritage Inc. • Scoping and budgetary discussions concerning Aboriginal Traditional Knowledge programs with Treaty 6 and Treaty 8 Nations in Alberta for the proposed Northern Gateway Pipeline Project. • Ethnobotanical research with Samson Cree Nation, Ermineskin Cree Nation, and Louis Bull Tribe for the TransCanada Keystone Xcel Pipeline Project. • Traditional Knowledge research with the Cumulative Environmental Management Association’s Aboriginal Members regarding traditional environmental knowledge about Aboriginal Resource Management Strategies in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo. • Traditional Knowledge research with the Cumulative Environmental Management Association’s Aboriginal Members regarding traditional environmental knowledge about traditional plant collection areas in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo. • Traditional Knowledge research with Fort Chipewyan Métis Local #125 regarding traditional occupancy concerns specific to the proposed Synenco Northern Lights project. • Traditional Knowledge research with Alexander First Nation, Enoch Cree First Nation, Driftpile First Nation, Sawridge First Nation, and Swan River First Nation regarding traditional land use concerns specific to the proposed Enbridge Gateway Pipeline. • Traditional Knowledge research with Cadotte Lake Métis Local #1994, Métis Region VI regarding traditional occupancy concerns specific to the proposed Shell Peace River Oil Sands Carmon Creek project to the southwest of the community of Cadotte Lake. • Traditional Knowledge research with the Cumulative Environmental Management Association’s Aboriginal Members regarding traditional environmental knowledge about wildlife movement in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo. • Traditional Knowledge research with Cold Lake First Nation regarding traditional land use concerns specific to Canadian Natural Resources Limited’s proposed Primrose East Expansion. • Traditional Knowledge research with Fort McKay First Nation regarding traditional land use concerns specific to the Deer Creek SAGD and mine project to the north of the community of Fort McKay. • Senior Archaeologist, Historical Resources Impact Assessment, Springbank Airport Future Development Areas, Permit # 2007 170

University of Calgary • Ph.D. dissertation research: currently completing a project with Swan River First Nation looking at the application of traditional knowledge to past, present and future land use including ethnoarchaeology, consultation, and land use planning. • Instructional Skills Workshop Graduate • Sessional instructor for INDG 399.09 “Archaeology and Traditional Knowledge” at the University of Calgary. • M.A. thesis research: thesis included ethnoarchaeological research with Dene Elders in northwestern Saskatchewan as well as the paleobotanical analyses of hearth remains and residues on lithics and ceramics from the Royal Saskatchewan Museum. Created a comparative collection of subarctic wood and charcoal thin-sections and wood and bark phyoliths. • Worked as an excavator on the following projects: Santa Isabel Archaeological Excavations in Nicaragua, Fish Creek Park Archaeological Excavations, Cypress Hills Archaeological Excavations, St. Mary’s Reservoir Archaeological Excavations.

Employment Experience

2009 - present Moccasin Flower Consulting Inc. Alberta: Principal 2008 University of Calgary Indigenous Studies Department, Calgary, Alberta: Sessional Instructor 2005 FMA Heritage Inc., Calgary, Alberta: Senior Archaeologist and Traditional Knowledge Facilitator. 2004 Western Heritage Resources Consultants, Alberta: Archaeologist. 2002 University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta: Teaching Assistant. 2000 Calgary Botanical and Zoological Society, Calgary, Alberta: Interpretive Programmer. 1998 Innisfail Historical Society, Innisfail, Alberta: Summer Student.

Volunteer Work 2015 – 2017 University of Alberta Senate

Education 2011 Doctor of Philosophy, Archaeology and Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Canada. 2005 Master of Art, Archaeology, University of Calgary, Canada. 2002 Bachelor of Science, Honours Archaeology, University of Calgary, Canada.

Academic Awards & Distinctions Ph.D. • SSHRC Doctoral Fellowship, 2006---2010 • Northern Scientific Training Program Grant, Summer 2007 and 2008

• Dean's Research Excellence Award, University of Calgary, Fall 2007 • Dean's Entrance Scholarship, University of Calgary, Fall 2006 • Dean's Research Excellence Award, University of Calgary, Fall 2006 M.A. • SSHRC Masters Scholarship, 2003---2004 • Province of Alberta Graduate Scholarship, Fall 2004 • Alberta Heritage Research Scholarship, March 2004 • Northern Scientific Training Program Grant, Summer 2003 and 2004 • Coutts Family Scholarship, University of Calgary, Fall 2003 B.Sc. • Department of Archaeology Silver Medallion, University of Calgary, June 2002 • Scott Munroe Memorial Scholarship, Red Deer College, April 2000 • Jimmie Condon Scholarship, Red Deer College, 1998 and 1999 • Alberta Colleges Athletics Conference

Publications Peer Reviewed Articles McAuley, C., C. Ng, C. McFarland, A. Dersch, B. Koppe, and D. Sowan. 2018. Lead exposure through consumption of small game harvested using lead-based ammunition and the corresponding health risks to First Nation in Alberta, Canada. Cogent Environmental Science, 1557316. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311843.2018.1557316 McAuley, C., D. Smith, A. Dersch, B. Koppe, S. Mouille-Malbeuf, and D. Sowan. 2018. Whole fish vs. fish fillet- The risk implications for First Nation subsistence consumers. Cogent Food & Agriculture, 4(1), 1546790. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311932.2018.1546790 McAuley, C., A. Dersch, S. Mouille-Malbeuf, B. Koppe, and D. Sowan. 2018. Cadmium tissue concentrations in kidney, liver and muscle in moose (Alces alces) from First Nations communities in northern Alberta. Front. Sustain. Food Syst. 17 October 2018. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2018.00069 McAuley, C., A. Dersch, L. Kates, D. Sowan, C. Ollson, and B. Koppe. 2016. Assessment of Exposure to Chlorinated Organics through the Ingestion of Moose Meat for a Canadian First Nation Community. Front. Environ. Sci. 28 November 2016. http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2016.00078 McAuley, C., A. Dersch, L. Kates, D. Sowan, and C. Ollson. 2016. Improving Risk Assessment Calculations for Traditional Foods Through Collaborative Research with First Nations Communities. Risk Analysis, DOI: 10.1111/risa.12578. Schlitt, M., H. Lord, O. Cosby, C. McAuley, and A. Dersch. Pending- Determination of Geosmin and MIB in Fish Tissue: Comparison of Two Methods. Reports & Papers (select) Dersch, A. 2019. Chipewyan Prairie Dene First Nation Traditional Land and Resource Use Study, Imperial Corner. Prepared for Chipewyan Prairie Dene First Nation IRC.

Dersch, A. 2019. Chipewyan Prairie Dene First Nation Traditional Land and Resource Use Study, Devon Canada Pike 2 Project. Prepared for Chipewyan Prairie Dene First Nation IRC. Dersch, A. and J. Hall. 2019. WNNB Lands and Resources Use Study for New Brunswick Tourism, Heritage, and Culture’s Restigouche Wilderness Waterway Provincial Park. Prepared for the Wolastoqey Nation in New Brunswick. Dersch, A. 2019. Atlantic Gold Corporation’s Proposed Beaver Dam Mine, Traditional Land and Resource Use Study. Prepared for Millbrook First Nation. Dersch, A. 2018. Chipewyan Prairie Dene First Nation Traditional Land and Resource Use Study, Suncor Meadow Creek West. Prepared for Chipewyan Prairie Dene First Nation IRC. Dersch, A. 2018. Montana First Nation Traditional Land and Resource Use Study. Prepared for Montana First Nation. Dersch, A. and J. Hall. 2017. WNNB Traditional Land and Resource Use Study for New Brunswick Tourism, Heritage, and Culture’s Mount Carleton Grooming Hub and Discovery Centre Project. Prepared for the Wolastoqey Nation in New Brunswick. Dersch, A. and J. Hall. 2017. WNNB Traditional Land and Resource Use Study for Emera’s Atlantic Link Project. Prepared for the Wolastoqey Nation in New Brunswick. Dersch, A. and J. Hall. 2017. WNNB Traditional Land and Resource Use Study for NB Power’s Fundy Isles Project. Prepared for the Wolastoqey Nation in New Brunswick. Dersch, A. and J. Hall. 2017. WNNB Traditional Land and Resource Use Study for NB Power’s Houlton Water Company Transmission Line. Prepared for the Wolastoqey Nation in New Brunswick. Dersch, A. 2017. WNNB Traditional Land and Resource Use Study for NB Power’s Kedgwick Transmission Line. Prepared for the Wolastoqey Nation in New Brunswick. Dersch, A. and J. Hall. 2017. Submission to the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, Point Lepreau Nuclear Generating Station 2017 License Renewal Application. Prepared for the Maliseet Nation of New Brunswick. Dersch, A. 2017. Alexander First Nation Final Report on Mapping Session, Alberta Powerline Fort McMurray West 500kV Transmission Project. Prepared for Alexander First Nation IRC. Dersch, A. 2017. Chipewyan Prairie Dene First Nation Traditional Land and Resource Use Study- Update, Nexen Long Lake and Kinosis Project. Prepared for Chipewyan Prairie Dene First Nation IRC. Dersch, A. 2017. Chipewyan Prairie Dene First Nation Traditional Land and Resource Use Study, Syncrude MLX Project. Prepared for Chipewyan Prairie Dene First Nation IRC. Dersch, A. and B. Kopach. 2017. Energy East Community Impact Assessment. Prepared for the Maliseet Nation of New Brunswick by MSES Inc. Dersch, A. 2016. Chipewyan Prairie Dene First Nation Traditional Land and Resource Use Study, PTTEPCA Mariana Thornbury Project. Prepared for Chipewyan Prairie Dene First Nation IRC. Dersch, A. 2016. Mactaquac Project Traditional Land and Resource Use Study, NB Power. Prepared for the Maliseet Nation of New Brunswick. Dersch, A. 2016. Alexander First Nation Traditional Land and Resource Use Study, TransCanada Boulder Creek South Lateral Pipeline Project. Prepared for Alexander First Nation IRC. Dersch, A. 2016. Chipewyan Prairie Dene First Nation Traditional Land and Resource Use Study, MEG Energy May River Project. Prepared for Chipewyan Prairie Dene First Nation IRC. Dersch, A. 2016. Chipewyan Prairie Dene First Nation Traditional Land and Resource Use Study, Suncor Meadow Creek East Project. Prepared for Chipewyan Prairie Dene First Nation IRC. Dersch, A. 2016. Chipewyan Prairie Dene First Nation Traditional Land and Resource Use Study, VCI Tristar Pilot Project. Prepared for Chipewyan Prairie Dene First Nation IRC.

Dersch, A. 2016. Chipewyan Prairie Dene First Nation Traditional Land and Resource Use Study, TransCanada South Kirby Expansion Project. Prepared for Chipewyan Prairie Dene First Nation IRC. Dersch, A. 2015. Swan River First Nation Traditional Land and Resource Use Study, Pembina Pipeline Fox Creek to Namao. Prepared for Swan River First Nation. Dersch, A. 2015. Bigstone Cree Nation Traditional Land and Resource Use Study- Interim Report, TransCanada NGTL 2017- Leige Portion. Prepared for Bigstone Cree Nation GIR. Dersch, A. 2015. Chipewyan Prairie Dene First Nation Traditional Land and Resource Use Study, TransCanada NGTL 2017- Kettle Portion. Prepared for Chipewyan Prairie Dene First Nation IRC. Dersch, A. 2015. Alexander First Nation Traditional Land and Resource Use Study, TransCanada Simonette Lateral Loop Project. Prepared for Alexander First Nation IRC. Dersch, A. 2015. Sunchild First Nation Traditional Land and Resource Use Study, Kinder Morgan TransMountain Pipeline. Prepared for Sunchild First Nation. Dersch, A. 2015. Chipewyan Prairie Dene First Nation Baseline Traditional Land and Resource Use Study, VCI Advanced Tristar Project. Prepared for Chipewyan Prairie Dene First Nation IRC. Dersch, A. 2015. Chipewyan Prairie Dene First Nation Traditional Land and Resource Use Study, Grizzly May River Project. Prepared for Chipewyan Prairie Dene First Nation IRC. Dersch, A. 2015. Final Archaeological Report Permit No. 14-203. GfPn-3. Pikopayiw Mohkoman (Broken Knife) Site. Prepared for: Swan River First Nation. Nicholls, N. and A. Dersch. 2015. Bigstone Cree Nation Traditional Land and Resource Use Study, Husky Oil Operations Ltd. Saleski Project. Prepared for Bigstone Cree Nation GIR. Dersch, A. 2015. Sawridge First Nation Traditional Land and Resource Use Study, Pembina Pipeline Fox Creek to Namao. Prepared for Sawridge First Nation Consultation Department. Nicholls, N. and A. Dersch. 2015. Bigstone Cree Nation Traditional Land and Resource Use Study, Osum Sepiko Kesik Project. Prepared for Bigstone Cree Nation GIR. Dersch, A. and A. Menard. 2015. Driftpile First Nation Traditional Land and Resource Use Study, Pembina Pipeline Fox Creek to Namao. Prepared for Driftpile First Nation. Dersch, A. and J. Garland. 2015. Alexander First Nation Traditional Land and Resource Use Study, Pembina Pipeline Fox Creek to Namao. Prepared for Alexander First Nation IRC. Dersch, A. 2014. Chipewyan Prairie Dene First Nation Traditional Land and Resource Use Study, Cenovus Phase H Project. Prepared for Chipewyan Prairie Dene First Nation IRC.

Presentations Dersch, A. and A. Black 2015 Primary and Secondary Impacts on First Nations Traditional Land and Resource Use in Alberta’s Southern Oil Sands Region. Presented at: the International Association for the Study of the Commons Conference. May 26, 2015, Edmonton, Alberta. Dersch, A. 2014 Traditional Knowledge Studies. Presented at: Consultation Conference--- New Brunswick First Nations Training Seminar and Strategy Session. March 26---27, 2014, Fredericton, New Brunswick. Dersch, A. and D. Sowan 2012 Contextualizing Consultation in a Cumulative Effects Framework. Circle for Aboriginal Relations Annual Conference, June 7, 2012. Edmonton, Alberta. Dersch, A. 2012 Overview of Consultation and Traditional Land Use. Metis Settlements General Council Conference, Chateau Nova, March 23, 2012. Edmonton, Alberta.

Dersch, A. 2011 Swan River First Nation Environmental Division: Successes and Challenges. Paper presented at the 2011 TSAG ‘Environmental Management and Tools Workshop’, February 8---10, Edmonton, Alberta. Dersch, A. 2010 Implications of the ‘Duty to Consult’ on Archaeological Research in Alberta. Paper presented at the 2010 CAA Annual Conference, April 28--- May 1, Calgary, Alberta. Dersch, A. 2009 Traditional Land Use: Challenges. Presented at Shell Canada Construction and Reclamation Workshop. May 5---6th, Edmonton, Alberta. Dersch, A. and D. Bush 2008 Determining relative importance of plant species to Aboriginal communities. Paper presented at the Alberta Society of Professional Biologists (ASPB) Conference, April 22---23rd, Red Deer, A.B. Dersch, A. 2005 Assigning Hearth Function through Paleoethnobotany. Paper presented at the 2005 CAA Annual Conference, May 11---15, Nanaimo, British Columbia. Dersch, A. 2004 Plants Equal People: Paleoethobotany in a Northern Dene Community. Paper presented at the 37th Annual Chacmool Conference, November 11---14, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta. Dersch, A. 2002 Tools for Building a Better World: A Possible Artifact of the Midewiwin Medicine Society. Paper presented at the 35th Annual Chacmool Conference, November 13---17, University of Calgary, Alberta.