Archived - Part A - Terms and Conditions of the Call for Bids 2009-2010 - Specific to the Beaufort Sea and Mackenzie Delta

(To be read in conjunction with Part B)

Table of Contents

• Land Descriptions
  • BSMD-1
  • BSMD-2
  • BSMD-3
  • BSMD-4
  • BSMD-5
• Maps and Digital Files
• 1. Acceptance and Agreement
• 2. Exploration Licence
• 3. Submission of Bids
• 4-16. refer to Part B - Terms and Conditions
• 17. Related Requirements
• Further Information and Contacts

Closing at noon, Mountain Time on July 6, 2010

The Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development hereby calls for the submission of bids in respect of five (5) parcels located in the area of the Beaufort Sea/Mackenzie Delta and comprising the following lands:

Land Descriptions

Maps and Digital File of the Call for Bids

• Beaufort Sea & Mackenzie Delta: page size   (355 Kb)
• Beaufort Sea & Mackenzie Delta: wall size   (3.16 Mb)

1. Acceptance and Agreement

- Canada Petroleum Resources Act s.s. 24.1

Any submission of a bid in response to a Call for Bids shall be made on the understanding that the terms and conditions as contained herein are accepted and agreed to by the bidder. Such understanding shall include the acceptance of and agreement with the terms and conditions contained within the form of the Exploration Licence and with the Benefits Statement of Principles.

2. Exploration Licence

- Canada Petroleum Resources Act s.s. 14.3 (a)

Any exploration licence which may result from a Call for Bids will be issued pursuant to the Canada Petroleum Resources Act, R.S., 1985, c. 36, 2nd supplement, or legislation made in amendment thereof or in substitution therefore and any regulations made thereunder from time to time.

Term

- Canada Petroleum Resources Act s.s. 14.3 (c)

The term for Exploration Licences issued from the 2009-2010 Beaufort Sea/Mackenzie Delta Call for Bids will be nine (9) years consisting of two consecutive periods of five (5) and four (4) years.

3. Submission of Bids

- Canada Petroleum Resources Act s.s. 14.3 (e), (f)

Sealed bids must be delivered, either by registered mail or in person, to the following address prior to NOON, Mountain Time on July 6, 2010:

Compliance Information Analyst
National Energy Board
Frontier Information Office
444 Seventh Avenue S.W.
CALGARY ALBERTA T2P 0X8

Bid(s) submitted in response to a Call must be addressed to the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and be in double sealed envelopes bearing no corporate identification.  The outer envelope should be clearly marked with the date and Call name, i.e. 2009-2010 Beaufort Sea/Mackenzie Delta Call for Bids.  The inner envelope(s) should be clearly marked with the date, Call name and parcel number.

View the Bid Submission Form

To be accepted, bids must be accompanied by separate financial instruments in respect of the issuance fee (clause 6 of Part B) and of the Bid Deposit (clause 10 (a) of Part B).

For sections 4-16, please refer to the Part B: General Terms and Conditions of a Call for Bids North of 60°

17. Related Requirements

The exercise of petroleum exploration rights may be subject to specific terms and conditions relating to the environment, and must comply with requirements under land claims and for northern benefits.

Conditions Relating to the Environment

Operators wishing to carry out activities as a result of this process will be required to comply with all federal environmental requirements defined in the Inuvialuit Final Agreement as well as those stemming from the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, the Canada Oil and Gas Operations Act, the Territorial Lands Act, the Arctic Waters Pollution Prevention Act, the Migratory Birds Convention Act, the Species at Risk Act, the Fisheries Act, the Canadian Environmental Protection Act and other applicable legislation.

The Petroleum and Environmental Management Tool (PEMT) ranks the southern Beaufort Sea and Mackenzie Delta area in terms of relative environmental and socio-economic sensitivity. This information has been identified by Inuvialuit and wildlife specialists and is intended to alert potential nominators that this area may be subject to additional regulatory terms and conditions. In areas of the Call not covered by the PEMT, please refer to the "Area subject to specific environmental considerations" on the Call for Bids map.

The Bering-Beaufort-Chuckchi population of Bowhead whales was designated as a species of "special concern" under the Species at Risk Act (SARA) in January 2008. Bowhead whales use habitats throughout most of the Call area during the spring, summer and fall. The eastern Pacific Grey whale is currently listed as a species of "special concern" under SARA, and has been observed in the southern Beaufort Sea during the open water period with increasing regularity. For further information, operators are encouraged to contact Fisheries and Oceans Canada in Inuvik (Amanda Joynt) at (867) 777-7515.

Environment Canada, Canadian Wildlife Service (EC-CWS) manages several Migratory Bird Sanctuaries and has identified a number of Key Migratory Bird Habitat Sites in the Northwest Territories that are essential to the welfare of various migratory bird species in Canada. Proponents are encouraged to contact the EC-CWS office in Yellowknife at (867) 669-4763 for further information on reducing impacts to migratory birds and their habitat. 

Based on the July 2006 photo-census, the territorial Department of Environment and Natural Resources concluded that there are significant declines in the Cape Bathurst and Bluenose-West caribou herds. The 2009 photo-census estimates indicate the herds have stabilized at low numbers. Operators should be aware that oil and gas activity in the range of both the Cape Bathurst and the Bluenose West herds may be subject to restrictions when caribou migrate into the project area.

The entire offshore and coastal area of the Call area is potential Polar Bear habitat. The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada has recommended that Polar Bears be listed as "special concern" under SARA. Additional mitigative measures may be required at the activity stage.

In addition, the entire onshore of the Call area is Grizzly Bear habitat. The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada has recommended that Grizzly Bears be listed as "special concern" under SARA. Additional mitigative measures may be required at the activity stage.  Other Species at Risk in the Call area include Wolverine and Peregrine Falcons. Additional mitigative measures may be required at the activity stage for these species.

For more information on wildlife and suggested monitoring and mitigation measures potential operators should contact the Government of the Northwest Territories' Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Inuvik (Marsha Branigan, Manager, Wildlife Management) at (867) 678-6670.

Land Claims Requirements

The successful bidder shall comply with the terms of the Inuvialuit Final Agreement. Interested parties should be familiar with the Agreement.

Northern Benefits Requirements

The successful bidder shall adhere to the Northern Benefits Requirements Associated with New Exploration Programs.

Further Information and Contacts

For more information on this Call, the rights issuance process or the resource management regime, please contact:

Lucie St-Jean
Rights Administrator / Registrar
Oil and Gas Management Directorate
Northern Oil and Gas Branch
Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
15/25 Eddy Street, 10th Floor
GATINEAU, QC
Postal address:
OTTAWA ONTARIO   K1A 0H4
Tel: (819) 997-0048
Fax: (819) 953‑5828
E-mail: Lucie.StJean@ainc-inac.gc.ca

Ursula Beddoes
Manager, Land Tenure
Oil and Gas Management Directorate
Northern Oil and Gas Branch
Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
15/25 Eddy Street, 10th Floor
GATINEAU, QC
Postal address:
OTTAWA ONTARIO   K1A 0H4
Tel: (819) 934-9392
Fax: (819) 953‑5828
E-mail: Ursula.Beddoes@ainc-inac.gc.ca

For more information on Northern Oil and Gas, refer to our website.

Any geological and well information with respect to the lands or area which is available for public disclosure may be obtained from:

Data Coordinator
National Energy Board
Exploration and Production
444 Seventh Avenue SW
CALGARY ALBERTA T2P 0X8
Tel: (403) 292‑4800; Fax: (403) 292‑5876