Cenovus advises that it will operate in an open, transparent and consultative manner. The company will be proactive in communicating plans for exploration and development with the regulatory agencies and other local stakeholders. Cenovus will comply with land use plans overlapping with the operating area and all regulatory procedures for application.
Access on all proposed roads by industry will require a road use agreement from Cenovus which outlines the terms and conditions for using the roads. Where such agreements are required, Cenovus will address other access management, corridor planning and aesthetic concerns in consultation with stakeholders and ESRD, as appropriate.
Forestry
Effects on forestry during site clearing will be mitigated through discussions and agreements with Al-Pac. A road use agreement between Cenovus and Al-Pac will improve access for forestry activities and prevent resource use conflicts between the Project and Al-Pac. As well, timber salvage will be conducted. Wherever merchantable timber is encountered efforts will be made to locate activities and developments outside of merchantable timber stands. In those areas where site clearing cannot be avoided, salvage operations will be conducted in accordance with the standard Forest Management Agreement (FMA) salvage criteria. Trees will be felled onto existing clearings to avoid adjacent timber damage, and tree removal will not occur outside of the approved disposition boundary unless it is deemed hazardous to both people and equipment to work within the boundary. In any event, all necessary consent and notification requirements will be confirmed with Al-Pac and regulators before activities begin.
Cenovus currently has a Master Withdrawal Agreement in place with Al-Pac. In an effort to integrate development plans with harvesting activities, Cenovus is committed to working with Al-Pac to coordinate efforts when working in similar areas. Cenovus’s timber salvage operations include but are not limited to:
• salvaging timber concurrently with operation activities; • sharing portions of ROWs as much as practical;
• felling all timber on the ROWs to avoid damaging vegetation and wildlife habitat;
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• using non-salvageable timber for roll back use, where it is applicable. Surface dispositions including timber harvesting is not permitted in PNT 120054, which is located within the LSA3. Compensation, both to Al-Pac and the Crown is based on the Provincial Timber Damage Tables which are reviewed each year. Compensation is based on specific timber stands to Al-Pac and the average to the Crown.
Hunting
Effects related to hunting will be monitored and will be mitigated through various measures as discussed below. Hunting is expected to continue in areas near the Project that will remain accessible to the public and in areas where hunting would not be in violation of provincial regulations. Alberta Hunting Regulations include prohibiting the discharge of a weapon, or allowing the projectile of a weapon to pass within 183 m of any occupied building (ESRD 2012b). Regulations also prohibit the discharge of a firearm from, or causing a projectile from a firearm to pass along or across a road that is paved, oiled, graded or regularly maintained (ESRD 2012b). These prohibitions will apply to facilities and access to the Project site.
Alberta ESRD requires all companies working in Caribou Areas to agree to commitments in their Caribou Protection Plan. As such the following access and hunting restrictions will be placed on all contractors and personnel conducting Project activities within the Christina Lake Caribou Area:
• pre-authorization will be requested prior to entering the access road and site;
• domestic animals, hunting or firearms will not be permitted on site; • snowmobiles and all-terrain vehicles are only to be used to for work-
related activities; recreational use of these vehicles by contractors and personnel will not be permitted; and
• vehicular traffic speed will be reduced at night to minimize the potential for collisions with wildlife.
Cenovus will ensure compliance by its personnel and contractors with the above restrictions and all other restrictions and responsibilities detailed in the Caribou Protection Plan.
3 PNT 120054 is located at the southeastern end of the LSA in NE, SE and SW Section 30, Township 75, Range 04, W4M.
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Trappers
Cenovus compensates Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal trapline holders based on a Trapper Compensation Matrix for all planned disturbances as filed with ESRD. Payment is based on the type and amount of disturbance to the trapline.
Fishing
Cenovus will not block access to lakes and rivers supporting sport fish. The permanent population increase as a result of the Project is projected to be minimal when compared to the existing RSA population. Additionally, fishing is managed as a public resource through provincial licensing requirements, and fish and game inspections. These requirements, along with the remoteness of the Project, are expected to mitigate the increase in sport fishing pressure.
Berry Picking
Effects to potential berry habitat will be mitigated through reclamation. Cenovus will also reduce the amount of Project disturbance through reuse of existing clearings where possible. Following reclamation, berry picking habitat may be enhanced in cleared areas.