ATHABASCA – A proposed project for a sand mining pit is being considered approximately eight kilometers southeast of The town of Athabasca.
Athabasca Minerals Inc. (AMI) held an open house Dec. 10 to introduce themselves to the community and field questions as to the impact the operation may have on the environment and neighbours of the property.
It will be a sand mining, washing, sorting, drying, and storage facility to produce proppant for oil and gas customers in Alberta and British Columbia. The primary product will be sand used in fracking.
“AMI had 182 people sign-in at our recent open house at the Athabasca Agriplex,” said Scott Clark who is in stakeholder engagement for the company. “We’re currently going through all the feedback.”
Estimates of the total of area residents who attended put the count at between 200 and 250 as there were many who did not sign in, as well there were about 100 when the open house started at 9 a.m.
Many of the questions and comments AMI received were concerns for water sourcing and treatment being the top issue, along with traffic impacts, air quality, noise mitigation, property values and potential local economic benefits rounding out the top of the list Clark noted.
AMI has been operating in Alberta for over 20 years and mines gravel, granite and dolomite. Sand will be a new venture for the company.
Currently 70 per cent of the sand used in Western Canada is shipped in from the United States creating transportation inefficiency, greater carbon footprint, and provides no opportunity for local jobs or economic benefits.
“If developed, the Athabasca operation will produce a Premium Domestic Sand that is superior to sand currently produced in Canada and equivalent to the sand imported from the United States,” Clark explained. “AMI conducted tests locally, drilling through the deposit and using a 3D model to verify the quality and quantity of the available sand.”
The deposit that was delineated would support a design-life of the project of 25 years Clark added.
Clark stated project decisions have not been finalized to ensure the community has opportunities to understand and give input.
Clark provided answers for the commonly asked questions at the open house:
Water supply
AMI is currently evaluating supply options and will be required to apply to Alberta Environment and Parks for a Surface Water Diversion licence and/or a Groundwater Diversion licence.
There are many options AMI will be considering for water usage; ground water, town water, trucked water and river water and may end up using a combination of sources.
“We are required to do baseline water quality and quantity monitoring during the pre-development phase of the project,” Clark said. “And continue to monitor quality and quantity of the water supply through the life of the project.”
AMI are currently evaluating options for water treatment.
“There are no additives mixed with the water in transporting, cleaning or sorting the sand,” stated Clark. “AMI’s goal is to minimize water usage and is planning to recycle as much water as possible.”
Traffic and air quality impacts
Currently the projected 40 to 60 B-trains daily will travel on Township Road 660 to Highway 827 and then south to various markets.
“AMI is conducting a traffic study around the proposed site which will be used to create mitigation to minimize impacts to peak volumes, seasonal traffic and school bus routes,” Clark expressed. “AMI is also exploring the potential incorporation of rail transport to minimize truck traffic.”
AMI will also conduct baseline air quality monitoring during the pre-development phase of the project and throughout the life of the facility operation.“This is a requirement of several regulations under the Environmental Enhancement and Protection Act,” explained Clark. “We don’t anticipate the community will notice any adverse effects from operation of the facility.”
The facility and operations will be designed to maintain dust levels better than minimum standards.
“We are also required to conduct baseline noise modelling and minimize any adverse effects,” Clark said. “Noise testing will be completed periodically during operation (hours) to ensure compliance with regulations and approvals.”
Local economic impacts
For the operation of the facility and mine, AMI anticipates more than 40 full-time staff as well as local contractors, suppliers, and trucking and intend to hire local for labour, contractors and services as much as possible.
“For the construction of the facility and mine AMI anticipates more than 100 staff, labour and contractors,” Clark added. “We will use local as much as possible.”
Regarding property values AMI will be conducting a socio-economic impact study that will include an assessment of potential property value-impacts and will share highlights with affected residents.
Reclamation
Dana Archibald, COO for AMI, explained at the open house that the whole process will be in stages and not a giant pit as some residents fear. Once a part of the pit has been mined, it will be reclaimed as the next part of the pit is opened and mined.
Reclamation will also depend on how much overburden must be removed to reach the sand deposit; if there is a lot of topsoil the final reclamation will likely resemble a dug out.
Clark noted here are also more than 20 municipal, provincial, and federal acts, policies and regulations governing aggregate extraction activities in Alberta.
“We are committed to meet requirements and exceed where practicable,” he stated.
Clark added it is early in the process to get the approval needed and AMI is seeking to share as much information as they can with stakeholders to get their feedback and suggestions including First Nation groups.
“We are also committed to tailoring our consultation efforts to be sensitive to the culture, protocols, and aspirations of Indigenous communities potentially affected as outlined in our Indigenous Relations Policy,” he said. “This project will follow Indigenous consultation as directed by Alberta’s Aboriginal Consultation Office.”
Overall the AMI staff at the open house were pleased with the turnout and Clark noted after the event normally 30 to 60 people attend.
Archibald also commented that he found the people he talked to enthusiastic and well-informed in their questions.
“This is a passionate and engaged community,” he said. “A community that cares.”
AMI said they will be holding more public consultation but did not state when that would happen.
“We are happy with the feedback and interest we’ve received from the community so far and look forward to the next pubic consultation activities,” Clark noted.
