Archived - 2008-2009 Call for Nominations - Beaufort Sea and Mackenzie Delta
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Closing at 4 p.m. (E.T.) on January 14, 2009
The Call for Nominations in the Beaufort Sea and Mackenzie Delta
closed January 14, 2009.
No nominations were received.
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1. Call for Nominations
The Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development hereby calls for the submission of nominations for Frontier Lands, as defined in the Canada Petroleum Resources Act, located in the Beaufort Sea and the Mackenzie Delta. Maps are attached for reference.
Lands currently under licence which revert to Crown reserve status during the course of this call for nominations may also be posted. Please check our website for a list of any licence terminations.
Posting requests received at the latest on January 14, 2009, by 4 p.m., E.T. will be considered by the Minister for inclusion in a call for bids tentatively scheduled to be issued early February 2009 pursuant to Section 14 of the Canada Petroleum Resources Act. 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 size of parcels posted varies according to location. Table 1 below sets out the minimum and maximum size of parcels within each area.
A Posting Request Form is attached and should accompany the request.
TABLE 1: MINIMUM AND MAXIMUM SIZE OF PARCELS*
(Parcels straddling line "A" will have their maximum size determined by using the maximum size indicated for south of Line "A")
| Location | Minimum | Maximum |
|---|---|---|
| North of latitude 75° N onshore and offshore | 1 grid | 8 grids |
| North of Line A including Arctic Islands and area subject to work prohibition order | ||
| North of latitude 70° N | 1 grid | 6 grids |
| South of latitude 70° N | 2 grids | 12 grids |
| South of Line A including Beaufort Sea and mainland Territories (excluding Mackenzie Delta and Tuktoyaktuk Peninsula) | ||
| North of latitude 70° N. | ½ grid | 3 grids |
| South of latitude 70° N | 1 grid | 6 grids |
| Area subject to work prohibition order *Parcels straddling Line "A" |
¼ grid | 3 grids |
| Mackenzie Delta west of longitude 133° W. and Tuktoyaktuk Peninsula | ¼ grid | 4 grids |
3. Submission of Posting Requests
All requests should be submitted by fax at the latest on January 14, 2009 by 4 p.m. E.T.
Each request should be addressed as follows:
Beaufort Sea & Mackenzie Delta Request for Posting
Closing January 14, 2009
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) 997-0048 or (819) 997-0877 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 Oil and Gas Management Directorate 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 Area Subject to Environmental Considerations
Operators wishing to carry out activities as a result of this process will be required to comply with all federal environmental requirements defined in the Inuvialuit Final Agreement as well as those stemming from the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, the Canada Oil and Gas Operations Act, the Territorial Lands Act, the Arctic Waters Pollution Prevention Act, and other applicable legislation.
The shaded area on the attached map has been identified by the Inuvialuit and other wildlife specialists as being of particular importance, and is intended to alert potential nominators that this area may be subject to additional regulatory terms and conditions.
Based on the July 2006 Photocensus, the territorial Department of Environment and Natural Resources concluded that there are significant declines in the Cape Bathurst and Bluenose-West caribou herds. Another estimate is planned for July 2009. Operators should be aware that oil and gas activity in the range of both the Cape Bathurst and the Bluenose West herds may be subject to restrictions when caribou migrate into the project area.
The entire offshore and coastal area of the call area is potential Polar Bear habitat. The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) has recommended that Polar Bears be listed as "special concern" under the Federal Species at Risk Act. Additional mitigative measures may be required at the activity stage.
In addition, the entire onshore of the call area is Grizzly Bear habitat. The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) has recommended that Grizzly Bears be listed as "special concern" under the Federal Species at Risk Act. Additional mitigative measures may be required at the activity stage. Other Species at Risk in the call area include wolverine and Peregrine falcons. Additional mitigative measures may be required at the activity stage for these species.
For more information on wildlife and suggested monitoring and mitigation measures potential operators should contact the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Inuvik (Marsha Branigan, Manager Wildlife Management) at (867) 678-6670.
5.2 Area Subject to Work Prohibition Orders
Part of the western Beaufort Sea is subject to work prohibition orders Footnote 1. Although lands may be nominated within this general area (identified by hachure on the Call for Nominations Map), the Minister may decide not to include these within a subsequent Call for Bids. Should an exploration licence be issued it may be subject to a work prohibition order pursuant to s.12 of the Canada Petroleum Resources Act.
Nothing in this Call for Nominations shall affect or prejudice in any manner Canada's position with respect to the nature or extent of jurisdiction or sovereign rights over maritime areas in the Beaufort Sea.
6. Resulting Call for Bids
The individual or company that requested the posting of a parcel(s) is also expected to submit a bid(s) in 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 is not obliged to proceed with a Call for Bids for any lands posted.