News Release

New study shows potential land disturbance from Northern gas development

June 7, 2005 – A new study presents the big picture of what Canada’s Northern regions could look like after 30 years of gas development. Previous studies, including the work done by Imperial Oil for the Mackenzie Gas Project, have only looked at the impacts of individual projects. A Peak into the Future provides Northerners with an estimate of the extent and pace of development that could occur if known and potential gas reserves are developed.

Click here for more information on the report A Peak Into the Future.

“Northern landscapes could be significantly altered as a result of the future expansion of the gas industry in Canada. We projected how much development could occur based on public information about gas reserves and presented that information on maps,” said Peggy Holroyd, one of the report’s authors. “These realistic development scenarios can be used as a tool by Northerners and decision makers to look at options to reduce the negative environmental impacts of resource development,” she added.

Using the ALCES™ computer model (click here for more information), the study looked at the current estimated gas reserves in the Mackenzie Delta and the Colville Hills in the Northwest Territories and the Peel Plateau in the Yukon and modeled the number of wells, pipelines, roads and seismic lines that would be needed to extract all the recoverable gas in those fields. The model showed that the rate of development and the ultimate landscape footprint of development will be similar to the footprint left behind by now mature gas fields in western Canada, where disturbance impacts are clearly evident. The study also models a small number of “best practices” that have proven to reduce the size of landscape footprint in other areas.

“Having a crystal ball in your hand to evaluate the impacts of different gas development practices before development starts can lead to better decision-making,” said Jennifer Morin of the NWT Chapter of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society.

“In the absence of protected areas and land use planning, and without commitments for improved operating practices, the study underscores the North’s vulnerability to the potentially devastating ecological effects of natural gas development. Without concerted efforts to safeguard our wildlife populations and their habitat, gas industry activities in the North could seriously degrade our northern ecosystems,” says Mac Hislop, Campaign Coordinator of the Yukon Chapter of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society.

This information can be used to further assess how wildlife, vegetation, air quality, local economies and communities in the North could be impacted by gas development.

This project was carried out by the Pembina Institute in partnership with the Canadian Arctic Resources Committee (CARC) and Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS), Yukon and Northwest Territories Chapters.

Peggy Holroyd
Pembina Institute
200, 608 7 St SW
Calgary, AB T2P 1Z2
Telephone: 403-269-3344 x 105

Jennifer Morin
CPAWS-NWT Chapter
4th Floor, 4921-49th Street
P.O. Box 1934
Yellowknife, NWT X1A 2P5
Telephone: 867-873-9893

Charles Birchall
Canadian Arctic Resources Committee
1276 Wellington Street, 2nd Floor
Ottawa, ON K1Y 3A7
Telephone: 613-842-7440

Mac Hislop
CPAWS- Yukon Chapter
P.O. Box 31095
211 Main St.
Whitehorse, YK Y1A 5P7
Telephone: 867-393-8080

Francophone media contact:
France Benoit
Canadian Arctic Resources Committee
3rd Floor, Mackay Building
4910 - 50th Street
Box 1705,
Yellowknife NWT X1A 2P3
Telephone: 867-873-4715