Archived - 2004-05 Central Mackenzie Valley Call for Nominations (Request for Posting)

Closing at 4 p.m. (E.T.) on December 17, 2004

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Accessibility Notice

1. Call for Nominations

The Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development hereby calls for the submission of nominations for Crown reserve lands located in the Central Mackenzie Valley of the Northwest Territories. A

Lands currently under licence which revert to Crown reserve status during the course of this Call for Nominations may also be nominated.

Posting requests received by 4 p.m., E.T., on December 17, 2004, will be considered by the Minister for inclusion in a call for bids tentatively scheduled to open in mid-January 2005, pursuant to Section 14 of the Canada Petroleum Resources Act (CPRA). Terms and conditions of the proposed call for bids are attached for information.

2. Content of Posting Requests

All posting requests must be described in accordance with the attached Guidelines for Posting Parcels North of Latitude 60° N. Each tract posted shall comprise laterally or diagonally contiguous blocks.

The minimum size of any posting is one (1) section; the maximum size is 4 grids (320 sections).

A Posting Request Form is attached and should accompany the request.

In the Mackenzie Valley, all native subsurface selections made pursuant to the land claim settlement agreements are excluded from the lands available for posting. The boundaries of parcels posted for lands that either abut or surround these subsurface selections may be described by simple exclusion. For example, a posting in the Sahtu settlement region could be described as: "66°00' N x 126°00'W, all sections excluding Sahtu subsurface selection areas" or "66°00' N x 126°00'W, all sections including those abutting Sahtu subsurface selection areas". The final land descriptions for these parcels will be prepared in consultation with the representative.

Areas identified on the map as areas "A" to "N" are not included in the Call for Nominations. These areas have been identified by either the Gwich'in or Sahtu Authorities as areas where oil and gas development is not permitted.

3. Submission of Posting Requests

All requests should be submitted by fax by 4 p.m. (E.T.) on December 17, 2004. Each request should be addressed as follows:
"Mackenzie Valley Request for Posting"
Closing December 17, 2004
Attention: Oil and Gas Management
Northern Oil and Gas Branch
FAX: (819) 953-5828

Requesters are advised to give prior notice of their intent to submit a fax by calling
(819) 953-8529 or (819) 997-0221 immediately prior to transmission. Telephone confirmation will be provided, if requested, upon receipt of the fax. Only the fax copy is necessary; original copies are not required.

All submissions received will become property of the Crown and will not be returned.

All information concerning nominations will remain confidential.

4. Priority of Posting

Priority of posting will be determined by order of receipt. Time of receipt will be that recorded by the fax machine of the Northern Oil and Gas Branch in Gatineau.

In case of overlapping requests, the first to be received will have priority. The second requester will be informed of the area remaining in the request which does not overlap a prior nomination. The second requester will be required to state whether they would like to maintain their posting on the remaining lands or withdraw the request.

5. Specific Considerations

5.1 Environmental Considerations

The hatched areas on the map have been identified by the Gwich'in Authorities through the Gwich'in Land Use Plan or by Sahtu Authorities to alert potential nominators that additional terms and conditions may be required at the activity stage. Seasonal or operating limitations may be established in accordance with provisions of the Canada Oil and Gas Operations Act. For example, the work season may be restricted to those months when the proposed type of activity will not have a significant impact on fish habitats, birds or other species and there may be precise conditions relating to drilling fluids and waste discharges.

Site specific environmental operating terms and conditions may be imposed at the permitting stage pertaining to a variety of matters such as cut-lines, drilling fluids, waste discharges and operating seasons. Consultation with the appropriate Sahtu or Gwich'in Authority and appropriate government departments regarding such matters as hunting and trapping, fishing and other related activities will be necessary prior to regulatory approvals.

Specific environmental protection plans developed in consultation with the appropriate Sahtu or Gwich'in authority may be required by the proponent prior to the commencement of activity. These plans would describe the necessary procedures the operator would take to minimize any environmental impacts to sensitive fish habitats, birds or wildlife habitat of the region, for example moose/caribou.

The implementation of associated activity may require the hiring of a local monitor to observe and provide advice on a number of items including cut-lines/roads, disposal of wastes, fuel storage and other related matters.

5.2 Land Claim Requirements

The lands available for posting are located within the Gwich'in Settlement Region and the Sahtu Settlement Region. Successful bidders shall adhere to the terms of the land claim settlement agreements reached with the Gwich'in and Sahtu Peoples. Interested parties are advised to obtain a copy of the appropriate land claim settlement agreements from the Frontier Information Office of the National Energy Board in Calgary.

Prospective bidders should be aware that the Gwich'in Land Use Plan has been approved. The Plan provides for the development and utilization of land, resources and waters within the Gwich'in Settlement area. Of specific note, the Plan recommends protection measures for specific lands. These areas are noted on the call for nominations map, available by request or by downloading from our website.

Anyone proposing to undertake oil and gas activities on these lands will be expected to undertake early and extensive consultations with the Gwich'in authorities. Access to these lands will likely be subject to special conditions, including environmental protection plans developed in consultation and discussion with the Gwich'in Tribal Council at (867) 777-7900. Further information concerning the Gwich'in Land Use Plan may be obtained by contacting the Gwich'in Land Use Planning Board in Inuvik, NWT, at: phone (867) 777-3506 or fax (867) 777-2616.

In the Sahtu area, a Land Use Plan is being developed by the Sahtu Land Use Planning Board, and a draft is available. Further information may be obtained by contacting the Sahtu Land Use Planning Board in Fort Good Hope at (867) 598-2055. In addition to the land use plan, a number of historic sites and heritage places have been recommended, and are outlined in a document titled "Places We Take Care Of", a report prepared by the Sahtu Heritage Places and Sites Joint Working Group". This report is available from the Sahtu Secretariat Incorporated in Deline at: phone (867) 589-4719 or fax (867) 589-4908.

6. Resulting Call for Bids

The individual or company that requested the posting of a parcel(s) is expected to submit a bid(s) in response to the Call for Bids. The Minister reserves the right to refuse future posting requests by that individual or company if a bid is not submitted.

The Minister will take into account all nominations in developing a Call for Bids but may modify nominations to configure a bid block following consultation with the nominee.

The Minister is not obliged to proceed with a Call for Bids for any lands posted.