Impacts of mackenzie gas project on water supply systems of northern communities – fort simpson as a case study

摘要

The Mackenzie Gas Project (MGP) is a proposed 1220-kilometre natural gas pipeline systemalong the Mackenzie Valley of Canada's Northwest Territories to connect northern onshore gas fields withthe North American markets. Four major Canadian oil and gas companies called “The Producer Group”and a group named “Aboriginal Pipeline Group” representing the aboriginal peoples of Canada'sNorthwest Territories are partners in the proposed MGP. The MGP is currently in the Project Definitionphase that includes assessing the effect of the project on the northern communities. Fort Simpson islocated on an island at 61°51'N latitude and 121°22'W longitude, on the forks of the Mackenzie and LiardRivers. Fort Simpson is proposed as the major route for the MGP with the construction of barge handlingareas, storage areas, camps/housing units and use of air and highway facilities. These activities willcertainly result in burden on local civil infrastructure systems including water supply systems. Althoughthe environmental impacts of the project on the community’s infrastructure systems are projected by theMGP proponents, however, it was appropriate by the local authority to conduct its own assessment of theimpacts on local water supply system. This paper is therefore aimed to present the results of that study.