Suncor Energy Inc.
Suncor Energy Centre
150 - 6 Avenue S.W.
Calgary, Alberta
Canada T2P 3E3
T: 403-296-8000
F: 403-296-3030
www.suncor.com
November 17, 2016
VIA EMAIL ONLY
Deanna Colley; Manager, Environmental Assessment
Alberta Energy Regulator
Suite 1000, 250 5 Street SW
Calgary, Alberta T2P 0R4
SUBJECT: Environmental Assessment Process for the Lewis In Situ Oil Sands Project
Dear Ms. Colley:
Suncor Energy Inc. (Suncor) wishes to seek a determination from the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) on
the requirement for an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the Lewis In Situ oil sands project
(the Project). The Project is situated in northeast Alberta approximately 25 kilometres northeast of the
city of Fort McMurray and located within Townships 91 and 92 and Ranges 6, 7 and 8, west of the fourth
meridian with the boundary outlined in red on the attached Location Map. The Project is wholly owned
by Suncor and within Suncor’s larger mineral lease located within Townships 91 and 92 and Ranges 5 to
8. The attached Location Map shows the Project bounded by red within the larger mineral lease that is
highlighted in yellow.
Suncor has had ongoing communications with stakeholders about the Project since 2014. Details on the
Project can be found in the attached Project Summary Table and Project Location Map.
The Project will consist of four 40,000 barrel per day (bpd) phases with an expected maximum yearly
production volume of 58,400,000 barrels of bitumen and a project life of approximately 25 to 40 years.
Suncor is planning to begin construction of the Project in 2025 with first oil production in 2027. A
significant investment of time and resources, through oil sands exploration work started in 2010 and
environmental data collection started in 2015, has occurred toward the submission of a regulatory
application for the Project.
Please do not hesitate to contact myself as per below or Michael Morden at 403-296-3742 if you have any
questions or concerns about this project.
Sincerely;
Richard MacAlpine
Sr. Advisor, Regulatory Approvals
Suncor Energy Inc.
O: 403-296-5690│C: 587-216-4113│F: 403-296-3030
[email protected]
cc.
Michael Morden, Suncor Energy Inc.
Michael Hallett, Suncor Energy Inc.
Kevin Nijhuis, Suncor Energy Inc.
Lewis In Situ Project Summary Table
Proponent Name:
Suncor Energy Inc.
Date:
November 17, 2016
Project Name:
Lewis In Situ Project
Company Contact
Name and Information:
Name of Company that
will hold Approval:
Suncor Energy Inc.
Company Website:
Richard MacAlpine
Suncor Energy Inc.
150 - 6th Avenue SW
Calgary, Alberta T2P 3E3
403-296-5690
[email protected]
www.suncor.com
Type of Project (e.g., insitu, mine, quarry,
upgrader, etc.):
In Situ
New Project,
Expansion, Additional
Phase or Modification:
New project
Projected Construction
Start (Month/Year):
Life of Project (# years,
YYYY – YYYY):
Q2 2025
Projected Operation
Start (Month/Year):
Project Location (Legal
Land Description and
Longitude/Latitude) and
Municipality:
Q4 2027 (first steam)
Total Project Area (ha):
Approximately 24,000 ha
for Phases 1-4
There are two trapper
cabins on the Lewis
lease. Proximity to
Suncor Lewis facilities
will be determined when
final project details are
confirmed.
Private, Federal or
Provincial Land:
Types of Activity (major
project processes,
components including
capacity/size, if
available):
The required feedstocks
will include:
• Diluent by pipeline;
• Make-up water.
Products and design
production rates
(maximum daily,
annual)
Nearest Residence(s)
(km):
Feedstocks and design
feed rates (maximum
daily, annual)
25-40+ years,
2027-2070+*
Phases 1-4 are located
within TWP 91-92, Rge 68, W4M
Mineral land base in TWP
91-92, Rge 5-8
Regional Municipality of
Wood Buffalo.
Lat 56.9, Long -111.1
Provincial Land
Steam generation with
cogeneration of power for
the first two phases
(approximately 170 MW),
bitumen production,
tankage, well pads, water
source and disposal
wells, pipelines, power
lines and roads
3
25,436 m of bitumen per
day established over four
phases
3
9,284,140 m of bitumen
per year
Byproducts and wastes
(specify types, rates
and storage capacities)
For In Situ operations:
• drilling waste;
• construction
waste;
• blowdown
disposal water;
and
• domestic waste
Page 1
Product storage
facilities and capacities
Cogenerated electricity is
planned for the first two
phases of the Project
The capacities of the
product storage facilities
will be provided in the
application
Nearest First Nation
Reserve(s) and Métis
Settlements (name and
km):
Power Source (if on site
power generation
describe quantity (MW)
and facilities):
Average Production
Capacity per Year
(specify units):
Location of End Market:
Project By-Products:
Expected Types of
Water Effluent Releases
(note the water bodies
the effluent will be
released to):
Waste Disposition /
Disposal (i.e., Disposal
Well, Salt Caverns,
Landfill, or Third-Party):
Watercourse Crossings
(type of crossing, any
Class A to C
waterbodies):
Regulatory Board(s)
(ERCB/NRCB/AUC):
Water Act Approval
Required
(Y/N/Unknown. If Y,
purpose):
The nearest First Nation
Reserve is the Fort
McKay First Nation which
is approximately 18 km
away
The Project will construct
two cogeneration plants
of approximately 85 MW
per cogeneration plant
3
9,284,140 m of bitumen
per year
Suncor's Canadian
downstream assets
and/or open market
and/or partner or thirdparty system
Excess electrical power
from the cogeneration
plants will be made
available to the electrical
grid
Treated domestic
wastewater and stormwater may be released
into surrounding area
when approved
standards are met
Blowdown disposal to be
disposed by deep well
injection
Disposal wells, potential
landfill and third-party
Potential for a water
crossing on the North
Steepbank river with the
possibility for other
crossings to be
determined at a later date
AER, AEP, ACT and the
AUC.
Unknown.
Page 2
Project Products:
Bitumen and/or diluted
bitumen as well as cogenerated electricity
Method of Product
Transport (e.g.,
pipeline, rail, truck,
etc.):
Infrastructure
Requirements (e.g.,
roads, pipelines, water
intake, storage,
tankage, etc.):
Expected Types of Air
Emissions (e.g., SO 2 ,
NO X , CO 2 , etc.):
Pipeline
Types of Solid Wastes
Generated:
Domestic and oil field
waste
Nearest
Waterway/Waterbody
(name and km):
The Steepbank River is
less than 1 km from the
west project boundary
Roads, pipelines, storage
tanks and power lines
NOx, CO2, SO2
The North Steepbank
River and three unnamed lakes are within
project boundary
EPEA Approval
Required
(Y/N/Unknown):
Y
Water Act Licence
Required
(Y/N/Unknown. If Y,
purpose, source and
estimated volumes):
Unknown
Waterbodies Required
(Y/N/Unknown/NA. If Y,
# and ha):
Will any of the
components or
activities associated
with the project affect
fish and/or fish habitat?
(Y/N):
Unknown
N
Identify applicable
sections of Designated
Physical Activities
Regulation pursuant to
the Canadian
Environmental
Assessment Act, 2012
Are any works or
undertakings proposed
to take place in, on,
over, under, through or
across a navigable
water? (Y/N):
Nearest Provincial
Highway (# and
distance):
None
Nearest Water Well (km)
(Domestic and
Commercial):
Domestic and
commercial water wells
within project area.
N
Access Improvements
to Provincial Highway:
N
Hwy 63 is approximately
18km from the project
boundary.
Total Area to be
Disturbed (ha):
Approximately 2,500 ha. *
for Phases 1-4
Traffic Impact
Assessment Required
(Y/No/Unknown):
Y
Post-reclamation Land
Use(s):
Traditional, industrial (oil
and gas), recreation and
other.
Identify Existing Land
and Water Use(s),
Resource Management,
or Conservation Plans
Within or Near the
Project site:
Reclamation Start and
End (YYYY - YYYY):
Estimated reclamation
2052 – 2070+
Decommissioning Start
and End (YYYY-YYYY):
Traditional, Industrial (oil
and gas), and
Recreational land use in
area. Project area is
within the Lower
Athabasca Regional Plan
boundary
Approximately 2052 2070+
Y
Unique Environmental
or Social
Considerations
(Describe or None):
None; a socio-economic
study will be conducted to
identify any unique
considerations.
Historic Resources
Impact Assessment
Required
(Y/N/Unknown):
Estimated Operation
Persons-Years of
Employment:
Estimated Construction
Person-Years of
Employment:
The project is expected to
provide around 550 660* person years of
employment per phase
Construction and
operations staff will be
housed in offsite camps
where required.
Method of Transport of
Employees to Site
(Construction and
Operation):
Is any part of the
project on or next to
federal lands?
Bus, with limited light
vehicle access
Construction or
Operation Camp
Required
(Y/N/Unknown. If Y, onsite or off-site):
Page 3
Approximately 50 to 65*
person years per year per
phase
N
• Athabasca
Chipewyan First
Nation;
• Fort McKay First
Nation;
• Fort McMurray No.
468 First Nation;
• Mikisew Cree First
Nation;
Other First Nation
groups may be identified
through the engagement
process.
Date Stakeholder
Engagement commenced Public Groups involved
• Regional Municipality
Engagement Started
in Stakeholder
in 2014. ACO preof Wood Buffalo;
(Public/Aboriginal):
Engagement:
assessment not yet
• Fort McKay Métis;
requested.
• Fort McMurray Métis
Local #1935.
• Registered Fur
Management Area
holders (Trappers);
Other groups may be
identified through the
engagement process.
* All items denoted with an asterisk are preliminary estimates and subject to change upon application filing
Will the project involve
the manufacture and
storage of explosives
(Y/N):
First Nation Groups
Involved in Stakeholder
Engagement:
N
Page 4
475000
©
EAGLENEST
LAKE
500000
525000
550000
T101
450000
FIREBAG
RIVER
BIRCH
MOUNTAINS
WILDLAND
T100
6400000
425000
AUDET
LAKE
ATHABASCA
RIVER
JOHNSON
LAKE
MARGUERITE
RIVER
WILDLAND
T98
6375000
T99
SAND
LAKE
MCCLELLAND
LAKE
T95
6350000
T96
T97
FORT
MCKAY
174C
FORT MCKAY
INDIAN RESERVE
NO. 174D
T94
FORT
MACKAY
T93
6325000
FORT
MCKAY
174
FORT
MCMURRAY
CLEARWATER
175
T88
T87
GRAND
RAPIDS
WILDLAND
SHORTT
LAKE
T86
GREGOIRE
LAKE 176B
GREGOIRE LAKE
176A
63
MAQUA
LAKE
ALGAR
LAKE
GREGOIRE
LAKE 176
CHRISTINA
RIVER
881
V
U
T85
³
²
6250000
GIPSY
LAKE
GREGOIRE
LAKE
BIRCH
LAKE
GARSON
LAKE
FORMBY
LAKE
NORTH
SOUTH
WATCHUSK
WATCHUSK
LAKE
LAKE
KIMOWIN
LAKE
T82
6225000
STONY
MOUNTAIN
WILDLAND
956
U
V
T81
EGG LAKE
5
R.M. OF WOOD
BUFFALO
10
R15
R14
R13
FORT
MCMURRAY
T80
6200000
Kilometres
NAD 1983 UTM Zone 12N
LAC LA BICHE COUNTY
R12
R11
R10
R9
R8
R7
Proposed Project Area
First Nations
Primary Highway
Parks/Protected Areas
Secondary Highway
Waterbody
R6
R5
R4
R3
R2
R1
R26
Suncor Energy Inc.
150 - 6th Ave. S.W
Calgary, AB
T2P 3E3
Municipal District
EDMONTON
Lewis Mineral Lease
CALGARY
LEWIS IN SITU PROJECT
LOCATION MAP
MAP REVISED:
REV:
11/1/2016
A
OPERATING AREA:
Lewis
DRAWN BY:
REQUESTED BY:
R.MacAlpine
FILE:
IS4664_Lewis_Location_Overview_RevA_.mxd
SKOHLSMITH
THIS DRAWING IS COPYRIGHT AND IS THE PROPERTY OF SUNCOR ENERGY. IT MAY NOT BE COPIED, REPRODUCED OR USED IN WHOLE OR IN PART IN ANY WAY WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM SUNCOR ENERGY OPERATING INC. USE OF
THIS DRAWING IS PERMITTED ONLY FOR THE SPECIFIC USE FOR WHICH IT WAS ISSUED.
Path: I:\Projects\In_Situ\Lewis\IS4664_Lewis_LocationOverview\MXD\IS4664_Lewis_Location_Overview_RevA_.mxd
T84
GREGOIRE
LAKE
GIPSY LAKE
WILDLAND
GORDON
LAKE
T83
6275000
³
²
69
1:600,000
T91
T89
CLEARWATER
RIVER
WHITEMUD
FALLS
WILDLAND
0
T90
6300000
R.M. OF WOOD
BUFFALO
LEWIS
DIVISION NO. 18,
UNORGANIZED
T92
LA SALINE