Mackenzie County P.O. Box 640, 4511-46 Avenue, Fort Vermilion, AB T0H 1N0 P: (780) 927-3718 Toll Free: 1-877-927-0677 F: (780) 927-4266 www.mackenziecounty.com [email protected] September 16, 2015 The Honourable Shannon Phillips Minister of Alberta Environment and Parks 208 Legislature Building 10800 - 97 Avenue Edmonton, AB T5K 2B6 Dear Minister: RE: EAST PEACE RESOURCE ROAD Mackenzie County, Northern Sunrise County and the MD of Opportunity passed a motion requesting support from The Honorable Robin Campbell, Minister of Environment and Sustainable Resource Development and The Honorable Wayne Drysdale, Minister of Transportation, on upgrading a road through the Blue Hills area (Mackenzie County) to Peace River known as the East Peace Resource Road (P5 Road) with year-around access. Prior meetings held by the three municipalities requested that Alberta Transportation considers this important North-South Alberta link in their transportation plans. The three municipalities believe this route is paramount for future resource extraction. In a follow up letter from the Minister of Transportation, they stated that, although extensive discussions were held to explore potential solutions, they determined there were no strategies available, including any type of fencing, which would mitigate all the impacts that the road development would have on wildlife. Mackenzie County has been encouraged to evaluate other options such as entering into discussions with the local grain elevator in High Level to increase their capacity and maximize the use of the current rail system in place. We have been encouraged by our ratepayers to reach out to you to discuss the above determinations further. …2 Alberta Environment and Parks Page 2 September 16, 2015 Mackenzie County is requesting a meeting with you to discuss this further at your earliest convenience. I can be contacted at (780) 841-1806 or you may contact our Chief Administrative Officer, Joulia Whittleton, at (780) 927-3718 for meeting arrangements. Sincerely Bill Neufeld Reeve Encls. c: Hon. Brian Mason, Minister of Transportation Ms. Debbie Jabbour, MLA – Peace River Ms. Danielle Larivee, MLA – Lesser Slave Lake Mackenzie County Council Joulia Whittleton, Chief Administrative Officer MD of Opportunity Council Northern Sunrise County Council Beaver Ranch 109 IR #163a Beaver Ranch Hwy 88 Hwy IR #163 Lake Boyer River Bushe River Child Fort Vermilion 108 IR IR IR IR #173b #207 #164a #164 P5 ROADMachesis Lake Fort 107 Provincial Forest Vermilion Hwy 697 Hwy Mackenzie Hwy 106 La Crete Highway 88 Connector MACKENZIE COUNTY 105 COUNTY OF NORTHERN LIGHTS Tallcree IR 104 Hwy 697 #173a 103 Paddle Prairie Metis Settlement #1 Tallcree IR #173 102 P5 ROAD Hwy 88 Carcajou Settlement 101 IR #187 Wadlin Lake 26th Base Line Indian Reserve 100 #173c 99 P5 ROAD 98 NORTHERN LIGHTS 6 COUNTY OF NORTHERN LIGHTS5 4 3 2 97 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 MACKENZIE COUNTY 25th Base Line 96 NORTHERN SUNRISE COUNTY Notikewin 95 Provincial P5 ROAD Park 94 COUNTY 93 24th Base Line 92 Manning Provincial OF Grazing Reserve SUNRISE 91 Manning P5 ROAD UPGRADED 90 89 23rd Base Line Whitemud 88 Provincial Grazing Reserve 87 LoonLake Red Earth Creek Woodland Cree IR 235 LEGEND: IR 226 86 IR 227 Hwy 986 COUNTY P5 ROAD NORTHERN IR 228 P5 ROAD UPGRADED 85 Hwy 986 Three Creeks COMMUNITY22nd Base Line Provincial Figure 8 Lake Grazing Reserve Recreational Area 84 Sixth Meridian Peace River Greene Valley Provincial Park COUNTY IR 155B Peace Duncan River DISCLAIMER Hwy 88 Provincial IR 151K SUNRISE Utikoomak Park Information on this map is provided solely Lakefor the user's information and, while thought to be accurate,IR 155 is provided strictly "as is" and without warranty of any kind, eitherIR express 155A CANA83-10TM115 NORTHERN or implied. The County, its agents, employees or contractors will not be liable for any damages, direct or indirect, or lost profits or data NOT TO SCALE arising out of use of information provided on this map. ALBERTA TRANSPORTATION Office ofthe Minister MM, Grande Prairie- Wapiti AR6 1608 April 7,2014 Mr. Bill Neufeld Reeve Mackenzie County P0 Box 640 Fort Vermilion, AB TOH INO Dear Reeve Neufeld: Thank you for your letter regarding the East Peace Resource Road being upgraded to provide access year round. As Minister of Transportation, I am pleased to respond. My department currently has no plans to expand the highway network with an additional north-south corridor in this area. The completion of the paving of Highway 88 in 2014, provides year round access for the area. As you noted, the East Peace Resource Road has been used by the resource sectors for the past several years. Since this is a private road, public finds cannot be used to fund improvements. I encourage you to work with the resource sector to discuss the upgrading of this road as they are the current users and road authority. Should the road become a public road, this project could possibly qualii~’ for Resource Road Program (RRP) funding. Although the RRP is not currently funded in Budget 2014, this project would be considered under the program should it meet all the program’s criteria when funding becomes available. Thank you for taking the time to write. Sincerely, Wayne Drysdale APR 172014 Minister cc: Honourable Frank Oberle, MLA Peace River MACKENZIE COUNTY Pearl Calahasen, MLA Lesser Slave Lake FORT VERMILION OFFICE 324 Legislature Building, 10800 . 97 Avenue, Edmonton, Aiberta T5K 2B6 Canada Telephone 780-427-2080 Fax 780-422-2722 100, Junction Point Village, 9814-97 Street, Grande Prairie, Alberta T8V 8H5 Canada Telephone 780-538-1800 Fax 780-538-1802 JWa,edan reryrted paper September 11, 2014 The Honourable Robin Campbell Minister of Environment and Sustainable Resource Development 323 Legislature Building 10800 - 97 Avenue Edmonton, AB T5K 2B6 Dear Minister: RE: EAST PEACE RESOURCE ROAD Mackenzie County, Northern Sunrise County and the MD of Opportunity passed a motion requesting your support for upgrading a road through the Blue Hills area (Mackenzie County) to Peace River known as the East Peace Resource Road (P5 Road) with year-around access. Please see the attached map. During our prior meetings, the three municipalities requested that Alberta Transportation considers this important North-South Alberta link in their transportation plans. We believe this route is paramount for future resource extraction. Thank you for your consideration and we are looking forward to working with you on this initiative. Sincerely, Bill Neufeld, Reeve Mackenzie County Attach. c: Hon. Frank Oberle, Minister of Aboriginal Relations, MLA Peace River Hon. Wayne Drysdale, Minister of Transportation Ms. Pearl Calahasen, MLA Lesser Slave Lake Mackenzie County Council MD of Opportunity Council Northern Sunrise County Council Beaver Ranch 109 IR #163a Beaver Ranch Hwy 88 Hwy IR #163 Lake Boyer River Bushe River Child Fort Vermilion 108 IR IR IR IR #173b #207 #164a #164 P5 ROADMachesis Lake Fort 107 Provincial Forest Vermilion Hwy 697 Hwy Mackenzie Hwy 106 La Crete Highway 88 Connector MACKENZIE COUNTY 105 COUNTY OF NORTHERN LIGHTS Tallcree IR 104 Hwy 697 #173a 103 Paddle Prairie Metis Settlement #1 Tallcree IR #173 102 P5 ROAD Hwy 88 Carcajou Settlement 101 IR #187 Wadlin Lake 26th Base Line Indian Reserve 100 #173c 99 P5 ROAD 98 NORTHERN LIGHTS 6 COUNTY OF NORTHERN LIGHTS5 4 3 2 97 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 MACKENZIE COUNTY 25th Base Line 96 NORTHERN SUNRISE COUNTY Notikewin 95 Provincial P5 ROAD Park 94 COUNTY 93 24th Base Line 92 Manning Provincial OF Grazing Reserve SUNRISE 91 Manning P5 ROAD UPGRADED 90 89 23rd Base Line Whitemud 88 Provincial Grazing Reserve 87 LoonLake Red Earth Creek Woodland Cree IR 235 LEGEND: IR 226 86 IR 227 Hwy 986 COUNTY P5 ROAD NORTHERN IR 228 P5 ROAD UPGRADED 85 Hwy 986 Three Creeks COMMUNITY22nd Base Line Provincial Figure 8 Lake Grazing Reserve Recreational Area 84 Sixth Meridian Peace River Greene Valley Provincial Park COUNTY IR 155B Peace Duncan River DISCLAIMER Hwy 88 Provincial IR 151K SUNRISE Utikoomak Park Information on this map is provided solely Lakefor the user's information and, while thought to be accurate,IR 155 is provided strictly "as is" and without warranty of any kind, eitherIR express 155A CANA83-10TM115 NORTHERN or implied. The County, its agents, employees or contractors will not be liable for any damages, direct or indirect, or lost profits or data NOT TO SCALE arising out of use of information provided on this map. .