Oil, Gas & Utilities

BACKGROUND

At DPRA, we have extensive experience in managing environmental and resource issues, especially within a northern context. Over the past decade, our firm has been involved in numerous initiatives associated with oil and gas (including the preparatory northern pipeline work prior to the Mackenzie Gas Project), mining (including conducting socio-economic assessment for the De Beers Snap Lake mine, peer review of the Diavik EA, research into Aboriginal participation in mining in the NWT), and utilities (including plans for delivery of power in preparation for the creation of Nunavut).

DPRA has been involved in environmental assessment (EA) and public consultation processes associated with various resource projects including oil and gas, nuclear power, hydro, and wind across Canada. Our experience includes EAs conducted under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (CEAA) and various jurisdictions. In many cases, our EA work has involved Aboriginal consultation and/or public consultation. Many of our EA projects have involved resolving sensitive or contentious issues.

We provide the following services for clients in the oil, gas and utility industries:

  • Environmental Processes & Monitoring
  • Socio-Economic Impact Assessment
  • Public Consultation/Hearings
  • Aboriginal Consultation
  • Regulatory
  • Information Management/Technology
  • Organizational / Capacity Development
  • Training

CLIENTS

DPRA has been responsible for assisting in the development and implementation of a Cumulative Effects Assessment and Management (CEAM) Strategy and Framework for the Northwest Territories, and NWT Cumulative Impact Monitoring Program (CIMP) and Audit. We have also conducted workshops with federal departments (e.g., Environment Canada) on current EA programs, focusing on the use of draft guidelines for Cumulative Effects/Socio-Economic Impact Assessment; developed an interim plan for cumulative effects (CE) research and monitoring in the Slave Geological Province (SGP) for the West Kitikmeot / Slave Study Society (WKSS); and developed a socio-economic monitoring framework (for GNWT-RWED).

  • INAC – Environmental Monitoring and Management of the Mackenzie Gas Project – A Coordinated Approach by Government
  • INAC – Pipeline Readiness Office – Mackenzie Gas Project EA Review
  • INAC-PRO – Preparations for Joint Review Panel Hearing on Socio-Economic Issues
  • MGPO (Mackenzie Gas Project Office) – Support Services for the Mackenzie Gas Project Office
  • NGPS – Mapping all Regulatory Processes for the Mackenzie Gas Project
  • Saulteau First Nation / Duke Energy – Review of Duke Energy’s Revised Draft Comprehensive Study Report for the Grizzly Extension Pipeline and WeeJay Lateral
  • Ontario Power Generation (OPG) Pickering A Nuclear Reactor Restart
  • Review of OPG’s Draft EA Study Report for Darlington Used Nuclear Fuel

APPROACH

Our project team members have designed, developed and implemented unique and innovative consultation approaches, especially for special groups like seniors, youth, multi-cultural groups, and Aboriginal peoples. These approaches include ‘vision circles’, self-guided workbooks, youth games, multi-cultural roundtables, and Aboriginal focus groups. These approaches have been cited in professional articles and national magazines, and have been successfully applied in communities ranging in population from less than 1,000 to over 1,000,000 in Canada and abroad. We have a sound understanding of which situations and which audiences merit innovative consultation approaches.