Archived - Part A - Proposed Terms and Conditions of the 2008-2009 Central Mackenzie Valley Call for Bids

The Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development hereby calls for the submission of bids in respect of ___ parcels comprising the following lands located in the area of the Central Mackenzie Valley.

PARCEL ( ____hectares )
Issuance Fee = $_____
Latitude Longitude Portion

INCLUDE PARCEL(S) DESCRIPTION AND MAP

1. Acceptance and Agreement

- Canada Petroleum Resources Act s.s. 24.1

Any submission of a bid in response to a Call for Bids shall be made on the understanding that the terms and conditions as contained herein are accepted and agreed to by the bidder. Such understanding shall include the acceptance of and agreement with the terms and conditions contained within the form of the Exploration Licence and with the Benefits Statement of Principles, copies of which are available by request or by downloading from our website.

2. Exploration Licence

- Canada Petroleum Resources Act s.s. 14.3 (a)

Any exploration licence which may result from a Call for Bids will be issued pursuant to the Canada Petroleum Resources Act (CPRA), R.S., 1985, c. 36, 2nd supplement, or legislation made in amendment thereof or in substitution therefor and any regulations made thereunder from time to time.

Term

- Canada Petroleum Resources Act s.s. 14.3 (c)

The term for exploration licences issued from the 2009 Central Mackenzie Valley Call for Bids will be eight (8) years consisting of two consecutive periods of four years each.

3. Submission of Bids

- Canada Petroleum Resources Act s.s. 14.3 (e), (f)

Sealed bids must be delivered, either by registered mail or in person, to the following address prior to NOON, Mountain Time on date specified:

Compliance Information Analyst
National Energy Board
Frontier Information Office
444 Seventh Avenue S.W.
CALGARY AB  T2P 0X8

Each bid submitted in response to a Call must be addressed to the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and be in double sealed envelopes bearing no corporate identification. The outer envelope should be clearly marked with the date and call name, i.e. "2009 Central Mackenzie Valley Call for Bids". The inner envelope(s) should be clearly marked with the date, call name and parcel number, i.e. "2009 Central Mackenzie Valley Call for Bids - Parcel No. ___".

Individuals or companies submitting more than one bid may place all bids in a single outer envelope.

The Bid Submission Form is available by request or by downloading from our website.

To be accepted, bids must be accompanied by separate financial instruments in respect of the issuance fee (clause 6 of Part B) and of the Bid Deposit (clause 11(a)of Part B).

4. Related Requirements

The exercise of petroleum exploration rights is subject to specific terms and conditions including:

Conditions Relating to the Environment

The yellow 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.

Land Claims Requirements

The lands available for exploration are located within the Gwich'in Settlement Region and the Sahtu Settlement Region. Successful bidders shall adhere to the terms of the land claims 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 of the Gwich’in Land Use Plan (Plan). 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) 777-4869. 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 area code (867): phone 777- 3506 or fax 777-2616.

In the Sahtu area, a Land Use Plan is being developed by the Sahtu Land Use Planning Board, and the first draft is expected to be available soon. 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: area code (867), phone 589-4719; fax 589-4908.

Interested parties are advised to obtain a copy of the appropriate land claim settlement agreement from the Frontier Information Office of the National Energy Board in Calgary.

Excerpts from both the Gwich’in and Sahtu Final Agreements are available by request or by downloading from our website. The community contacts for each of the claims are identified in the Information section.

Northern Benefits Requirements

The successful bidder shall adhere to the Northern Benefits Requirements Associated with New Exploration Programs which is available by request or by downloading from our website.

Information

For more information on this call, the rights issuance process or the resource management regime, please contact:

Rights Issuance
Northern Oil and Gas Branch
Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
15/25 Eddy Street, 10th Floor
OTTAWA ON K1A 0H4
Tel: (819) 997-0048; Fax: (819) 953-5828
E-mail: stjeanLL@inac.gc.ca

Northern Oil and Gas Branch
Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
15/25 Eddy Street, 10th Floor
OTTAWA ON K1A 0H4
Tel: (819) 997-0877;
Fax: (819) 953-5828

Northern Oil and Gas information, including maps, may be found on and downloaded from the DIAND web site.

Any geological and well information with respect to the lands or area which is available for public disclosure may be obtained from:

Data Coordinator
National Energy Board
Exploration and Production
444 Seventh Avenue SW
CALGARY AB T2P 0X8
Fax: (403) 292-5876
Phone: (403) 292-4800

GWICH'IN LAND AREAS
For more information regarding the terms and requirements arising out of the Gwich'in land claim settlement agreement, please contact:

President
Gwich'in Tribal Council
P.O. Box 1509
INUVIK NT X0E 0T0
Phone: (867) 777-7900
Fax: (867) 777-7919

SAHTU LAND AREAS

For more information, regarding the terms and requirements arising out of the Sahtu land claim settlement agreement, please contact the designated Sahtu organization nearest to the proposed exploration area.