Nahanni Butte Dene band agrees to project with Calgary company
Derek Neary
Northern News Services
Nahanni Butte (Apr 06/01) - A Calgary-based seismic company has signed an agreement with the Nahanni Butte Dene band to conduct $15 million worth of seismic activity over the next year.
Arcis Corporation plans to carry out two seismic projects, the first one this summer, pending approval from the NWT's regulatory bodies and funding from oil and gas companies interested in the data.
The Nahanni Butte Dene band has been guaranteed jobs and training, according to Brad Torry, vice-president of Arcis Surveys. In addition, the band is to receive an undisclosed share of the sale of seismic data.
"We believe there's a need to provide both short-term and long-term benefits to the local community," Torry said.
Leon Konisenta, chief of the Nahanni Butte Dene band, said the deal is a good one for his community. Creating employment is a critical factor, as 10 people in the community of close to 100 are currently waiting for jobs, he said.
Arcis is preparing its land-use application for the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board. Because the majority of the seismic work will be assisted by helicopter the impacts on the land should be minimal, according to Torry.
The total area to be covered in phase one of the project will be approximately 1,600 sq. km. west of the Liard River. The actual disturbance will amount to only three sq. km., Torry said.
The closest the project comes to Nahanni National Park is 15 kilometres, he noted, and all seismic lines will remain outside the park's watershed area.
Phase two, scheduled for winter of 2002, will cover the same amount of land east of the Liard River.
"We've already been up to the area and done preliminary scouting," said Torry.
"We'll be up there again (this) week continuing that process and meeting with government officials."
Arcis is optimistic that the land will generate a interest from the oil and gas industry because the project is north of Fort Liard, where there have been some massive natural gas finds.
"We feel the initial interest is strong from the oil and gas companies. The response we've got is quite positive," he said.
He said that public meetings in Nahanni Butte, Fort Liard and Fort Simpson are expected later this month.
