Malcolm Gorrill
Northern News Services

Inuvik (Oct 20/00) - Shell Canada Ltd. is ready to pick up where it left off here in the 1970s and 1980s, as it prepares to conduct seismic exploration programs this winter and next.

More than 20 people attended a community meeting last Friday at Ingamo Hall to hear about the programs proposed for a tract of land near Inuvik and Aklavik.

John Brown, senior seismic supervisor with Shell, said that if approved, the programs would start in January and end in April or May. Brown said Shell has made a commitment to spend about $35 million over two years.

The seismic crew will live in a barge camp on Reindeer Channel.

The camp will house a maximum of 120 people.

Brown said that the siesmic program will employ between 50-90 people. They would work for 28 days and then be flown out for seven days off.

Schlumberger Oilfield Services will conduct the seismic programs for Shell. Brown said that no alcohol or drugs would be allowed at base camp. Shell's block is mostly on Crown lands and Brown said it's the only place in this area right now that Shell is actively exploring.

Brown said it will take time to analyze the data during exploration after the program ends in the spring.

"Interpretation is an art as much as a science," he explained.

Muskrat concerns

During the meeting, a question was raised about the effects seismic explosions on muskrat. Erin Bradley, project manager with Inuvialuit Environmental Inc., said one study indicates that the activity does not cause permanent harm.

"It says that if you blast dynamite too close to muskrats, it can cause some non-permanent damage in the middle ear," Bradley said.

"That's what we're going with right now. We have been talking to people from the HTCs (hunters and trappers committees) to try and make sure we're just not going to be putting dynamite near muskrats."

Brown said he was pleased with the turnout in Inuvik as well as at meetings earlier that week in Aklavik and Tuktoyaktuk.

"We've had good turnouts in all the communities and a lot of comments from the crowd, and we're making note of those comments and are going to address them in our application," Brown said.