Notice of Application: Mildred Lake Expansion Project, Syncrude Canada Limited

This notice also sets out the deadline for filing statements of concern on the applications. See the section below on how to file a statement of concern for filing dates.

Description of t​he Applications

Syncrude has applied for regulatory approval to construct, operate and reclaim the MLX project. The company is requesting amendments to its existing approvals under section 13 of the OSCA (AER Approval No. 8573), sections 66 and 70 of EPEA (EPEA Approval No. 26-02), and sections 42 and 54 of the Water Act (Water Act Approval No. 263298), as well as a licence under section 50 of the Water Act.

The project is to consist of two additional mining areas and affiliated perimeter features within and adjacent to the current operating and approved mining areas in accordance with the applications. It includes an extension of the existing Water Act fenceline and proposed diversion of an additional 11 700 000 m3 of water per year from the McKay River watershed through collection of on-site precipitation and runoff, groundwater seepage, dewatering, and basal water sands depressurization.

The MLX project is designed to sustain bitumen production levels at the Mildred Lake facility after depletion of the current approved mining areas, which is expected in 2024. This will extend the duration of mining activity on the Mildred Lake leases by about 14 years. The estimated mineable resource in the MLX project area is 117 million m3 (738 million barrels) of recoverable bitumen. Syncrude currently mines about 100 million tonnes of oil sands annually at the Mildred Lake mine.

The project is to be located about 35 km northwest of Fort McMurray and 15 km south of Fort McKay on Oil Sands Leases 17 and 22, in Townships 93 and 94, Ranges 10, 11 and 12, West 4th Meridian within the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo.

Syncrude has also submitted an EIA report. This EIA report forms part of the applications to the AER.

For a copy of the applications, contact

Syncrude Canada Limited 
P. O. Bag 4023 
Fort McMurray, Alberta  T9H 3H5
Attention: Isabelle Shelvey 
Telephone: 780-790-6250
Fax: 780-790-6338
E-mail: [email protected]

To receive a copy of the applications, EIA, and supporting documents, submit an information request, as outlined at www.aer.ca/data-and-publications/how-to-order, to

AER Order Fulfillment 
Suite 1000, 250 – 5 Street SW
Calgary, Alberta  T2P 0R4
Telephone: 1-855-297-8311 
(toll free; option 2)
E-mail: [email protected]
Viewing hours: 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Refer to this notice when requesting information to expedite the response. Copies of the applications will also be available at

Requirement to File a Statement of Concern 

If you have concerns with these applications, you must file a statement of concern as described below. If you do not file a statement of concern, the AER may approve the applications without notifying you.

How to File a Statement of Concern

For your submission to be considered a valid statement of concern, it must be filed before 4:00 p.m. on March 2, 2015. Send one copy of your statement of concern to Syncrude at the name and address above and one copy to:

Authorizations Review & Coordination Team
Alberta Energy Regulator
Suite 1000, 250 – 5 Street SW
Calgary, Alberta  T2P 0R4 
Fax: 403-297-4117
E-mail: [email protected]

Contents of a ​Statement of Concern

For your submission to be considered a valid statement of concern, it must include

1. why you believe that you may be directly and adversely affected by a decision of the AER on the applications;
2. the nature of your objection to the applications;
3. the outcome of the applications that you advocate;
4. the location of your land, residence, or activity in relation to the location of the energy resource activity that is the subject of the applications; and
5. your contact information, including your name, address in Alberta, telephone number, and 
   e-mail address or, if you do not have an e-mail address, your fax number.

Confidentiality

Section 49 of the Alberta Energy Regulator Rules of Practice (Rules of Practice) requires that all documents and information filed in a proceeding be placed on the public record. If you file a submission, you must not include any personal information that you do not want to appear on or are not authorized to put on the public record. Section 49(2) of the Rules of Practice states how to apply to the AER for an order to keep information confidential. The Rules of Practice is available on the AER website at www.aer.ca.

Jurisdiction

Submissions relating exclusively to compensation for land use are not dealt with by the AER and should be referred to the Alberta Surface Rights Board.

Under section 21 of the Responsible Energy Development Act, the AER does not have the jurisdiction to assess the adequacy of Crown consultation associated with the rights of aboriginal peoples as recognized and affirmed under the Constitution Act, 1982.

For information on AER procedures, contact

Authorizations 
Attention: Karen Roberts
Telephone: 403-297-8214
Fax: 403-297-3757
E-mail: [email protected]

Issued at Calgary, Alberta, on January 19, 2015.
ALBERTA ENERGY REGULATOR
Patricia M. Johnston, Q.C., General Counsel