Archived - Beaufort Sea and Mackenzie Delta - 2009-2010 Call for Nominations
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Launched on December 22, 2009
Closing at 4 p.m. (E.T.) on January 28, 2010
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 refer to our registry activities. This site will list any changes to licences, such as surrenders and terminations, and is updated frequently.
Posting requests received at the latest on January 28, 2010, 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 2010 pursuant to Section 14 of the Canada Petroleum Resources Act. Proposed 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. The following Table 1 sets out the minimum and maximum size of parcels within each area.
A Posting Request Form should accompany the request.
| 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 | ¼ grid | 3 grids |
| Mackenzie Delta west of longitude 133° W and Tuktoyaktuk Peninsula | ¼ grid | 4 grids |
| * Parcels straddling line "A" will have their maximum size determined by using the maximum size indicated for south of Line "A". | ||
3. Submission of Posting Requests
All requests should be submitted by fax at the latest on January 28, 2010 by 4 p.m. E.T. Each request should be addressed as follows:
Beaufort Sea & Mackenzie Delta Request for Posting
Closing January 28, 2010
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 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, the Migratory Birds Convention Act, the Species at Risk Act, the Fisheries Act, the Canadian Environmental Protection Act and other applicable legislation.
The Petroleum and Environmental Management Tool (PEMT) ranks the southern Beaufort Sea and Mackenzie Delta area in terms of relative environmental and socio-economic sensitivity. This information has been identified by Inuvialuit and wildlife specialists and is intended to alert potential nominators that this area may be subject to additional regulatory terms and conditions. In areas of the call not covered by the PEMT, please refer to the "Area subject to specific environmental considerations" on the Call for Nominations map.
The Bering-Beaufort-Chuckchi population of Bowhead whales was designated as a species of "special concern" under the Species at Risk Act (SARA) in January 2008. Bowhead whales use habitats throughout most of the call area during the spring, summer and fall. The eastern Pacific Grey whale is currently listed as a species of "special concern" under SARA, and has been observed in the southern Beaufort Sea during the open water period with increasing regularity. For further information, operators are encouraged to contact Fisheries and Oceans in Inuvik (Amanda Joynt) at (867) 777-7515.
Environment Canada, Canadian Wildlife Service (EC-CWS) manages several Migratory Bird Sanctuaries and has identified a number of Key Migratory Bird Habitat Sites in the Northwest Territories that are essential to the welfare of various migratory bird species in Canada. Proponents are encouraged to contact the EC-CWS office in Yellowknife at (867) 669-4763 for further information on reducing impacts to migratory birds and their habitat.
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. The 2009 photocensus estimates indicate the herds have stabilized at low numbers. 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 has recommended that Polar Bears be listed as "special concern" under SARA. 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 has recommended that Grizzly Bears be listed as "special concern" under SARA. 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 [Note]. Although lands may be nominated within this general area, 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 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.
Footnote
Canada Petroleum Resources Act, s.s.12.
- The Governor in Council may, in the case of
- a disagreement with any government concerning the location of an international boundary,
- an environmental or social problem of a serious nature, or
- dangerous or extreme weather conditions affecting the health or safety of people or the safety of equipment
- Where, by reason of an order made under subsection (1), any requirement in relation to an interest cannot be complied with while the order is in force, compliance with the requirement is suspended until the order is revoked.
- Notwithstanding any other provision in this Act, the term of an interest that is subject to an order under subsection (1) and the period provided for compliance with any requirement in relation to the interest are extended for a period equal to the period that the order is in force.
- Nothing in this section affects the authority of the Minister to relieve a person from any requirement in relation to an interest or under this Act or the regulations.