On March 13, 2015, the Government of Alberta released the Tailings Management Framework for the Mineable Athabasca Oil Sands to enhance the management of fluid tailings in this region. The Framework provides direction to manage fluid tailings volumes during and after mine operation in order to manage and decrease liability and environmental risk resulting from the accumulation of fluid tailings on the landscape. The Framework can be found online.
Implementation of the Framework is currently underway, and a key priority project in this implementation process is the revision of the Mine Financial Security Program to meet the intent of the Framework. As a result, Alberta Environment and Parks is establishing a Tailings Management Framework Mine Financial Security Program Working Group.
Alberta Environment and Parks would like to invite three representatives from the ENGO community to actively participate in the working group.
Purpose and Tasks
The working group is intended to provide an opportunity to provide input and options for changes to the Mine Financial Security Program Standard and Guide to the Mine Financial Security Program to enable the Program to be used to manage exceedances of fluid tailings volume profile thresholds, as committed to in the Framework , for Alberta Environment and Parks to consider. The Working Group is intended to be a mechanism to gain input from the perspectives of various stakeholders on how this program could be used as an effective tool for supporting the management of fluid tailings at oil sands mining projects.
Additionally, working group members will be expected to:
- Be familiar with the Tailings Management Framework, the Mine Financial Security Program, and related policy;
- Work in collaboration with other working group members to provide advice or identify approaches/solutions;
- Provide input on project areas and support the project by sharing knowledge, interests and perspectives of their sector in the discussion, including identifying potential issues and barriers from their perspective that could impact implementation;
- Where appropriate, act as a conduit for information back to members of their sector, and confirm support as needed;
- Identify and provide access to relevant knowledge and resources to support the work of the Stakeholder Interest Group, when appropriate;
- Strive for consensus where possible and appropriate, and identify alternative perspectives for consideration where consensus has not been achieved; and
- Respect the confidentiality of contributions of all members.
The first meeting of the working group is tentatively planned for the second week in May in Edmonton. If there are preferred days during that week, please also include those with your response. The group is expected to meet every two to three weeks for half- or full-day working sessions, and complete its work by the end of June 2017 (4-5 working sessions in total). Meetings will alternate between Edmonton, Calgary, and Fort McMurray, or as decided by the members of the working group. Additional information including an agenda for the first meeting and draft work plan and draft Terms of Reference for the working group will be provided to the identified representatives prior to the first meeting.
Alberta Environment and Parks will compensate members of the working group for their participation in-/contribution to face-to-face working group meetings. Captured within this commitment are:
- travel expenses (includes accommodation);
- working group participation: $125 (half day), $250 (full day); and
- preparatory and follow-up work: $106.
If business travel is required in the performance of the services, the following expenses incurred by the member may be claimed:
- Use of a private vehicle at a rate of $.505 per kilometer travelled;
- Meals in the amount shown on the bill, excluding alcoholic beverages, plus a gratuity of up to 20 per cent; and,
- Accommodation in the amount shown on the bill if service delivery requires overnight stay.
The delegates should have the following attributes:
- Familiarity with the Tailings Management Framework for the Mineable Athabasca Oil Sands and Mine Financial Security Program;
- Knowledge and expertise in tailings management, and/or financial risk management is an asset;
- Experience in multi-stakeholder decision-making and providing input;
- Representative of a reputable environmental organization with a demonstrated history of work on tailings management, and oil sands issues;
- Committed to effectively provide two-way communication between the working group and the environmental non-governmental organization community;
- Proven ability to participate, work professionally, constructively and collaboratively with other stakeholders and with government representatives;
- Able to allocate the time required to complete the work within tight timelines; and
- Demonstrated commitment to environmental protection and stewardship.
Delegate Expectations
- Make own travel and accommodation arrangements.
- Review and analyze background documents provided .
- Provide input at the meetings.
- Ensure that their alternate is kept up-to-date and well-briefed in case the delegate is unable to attend a meeting. Where possible, organizations should nominate both a primary member and an alternate.
- Provide updates to and receive feedback from the ENGO sector by participating in AEN conference calls & meetings, and providing periodic written briefs.
The selected delegates are expected to conduct themselves in accordance with the objects and values of the Alberta Environmental Network. The objects of the AEN include:
- to encourage and support networking, communication, and resource sharing amongst non- governmental environmental organizations...
- to facilitate common action and/or joint initiatives by some or all of its member groups
The values of the AEN:
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Please reply to [email protected] by Monday, April 24, 2017 providing:
- Name and contact information (contact person, email, and phone number) of the environmental organization endorsing the applicant;
- Contact information of applicant (mailing address, email, and phone number) and their alternate;
- A brief description of the organization’s interest in the working group; and
- A brief description the applicant’s background and abilities, particularly those relevant to the selection criteria. Delegates may include a resume as additional information but not in the place of the other information requested.
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 Call for Delegates: TWF Mine Financial Security Program Working Group (PDF) | 93.25 KB |