Mackenzie County. September 16, 2015

Transcription

1 Mackenzie County P.O. Box 640, Avenue, Fort Vermilion, AB T0H 1N0 P: (780) Toll Free: F: (780) September 16, 2015 The Honourable Shannon Phillips Minister of Alberta Environment and s 208 Legislature Building Avenue Edmonton, AB T5K 2B6 Dear Minister: RE: EAST PEACE RESOURCE ROAD Mackenzie County, Northern Sunrise County and the MD of Opportunity passed a motion requesting support from The Honorable Robin Campbell, Minister of Environment and Sustainable Resource Development and The Honorable Wayne Drysdale, Minister of Transportation, on upgrading a road through the Blue Hills area (Mackenzie County) to Peace River known as the East Peace Resource Road (P5 Road) with year-around access. Prior meetings held by the three municipalities requested that Alberta Transportation considers this important North-South Alberta link in their transportation plans. The three municipalities believe this route is paramount for future resource extraction. In a follow up letter from the Minister of Transportation, they stated that, although extensive discussions were held to explore potential solutions, they determined there were no strategies available, including any type of fencing, which would mitigate all the impacts that the road development would have on wildlife. Mackenzie County has been encouraged to evaluate other options such as entering into discussions with the local grain elevator in High Level to increase their capacity and maximize the use of the current rail system in place. We have been encouraged by our ratepayers to reach out to you to discuss the above determinations further. 2

2 Alberta Environment and s Page 2 September 16, 2015 Mackenzie County is requesting a meeting with you to discuss this further at your earliest convenience. I can be contacted at (780) or you may contact our Chief Administrative Officer, Joulia Whittleton, at (780) for meeting arrangements. Sincerely Bill Neufeld Reeve Encls. c: Hon. Brian Mason, Minister of Transportation Ms. Debbie Jabbour, MLA Peace River Ms. Danielle Larivee, MLA Lesser Slave Mackenzie County Council Joulia Whittleton, Chief Administrative Officer MD of Opportunity Council Northern Sunrise County Council

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5 26th Base Line TY LIGHTS Mackenzie Hwy Bushe River Child Boyer River #207 Hwy 697 #164a La Crete #164 Machesis Forest Hwy 697 Fort Vermilion Fort Vermilion #173b Highway 88 Connector Beaver Ranch Tallcree #163a #173a Beaver Ranch # Paddle Prairie Metis Settlement #1 Tallcree # ERN LIGHTS NORTHERN LIGHTS Carcajou Settlement th Base Line #187 MACKENZIE NORTHERN SUNRISE Wadlin Indian Reserve #173c Notikewin 93 24th Base Line Manning Manning OF SUNRISE UPGRADED 89 23rd Base Line LEGEND: Sixth Meridian Whitemud UPGRADED COMMUNITY 85 22nd Base Line Figure 8 Recreational Area 84 Hwy 986 NORTHERN Three Creeks Woodland Cree Hwy 986 Loon 235 Red Ea CANA83-10TM115 NOT TO SCALE Peace River Peace River Greene Valley Duncan 151K NORTHERN DISCLAIMER SUNRISE 155B Utikoomak Information on this map is provided solely for the user's information and, while thought to be accurate, is provided 155 strictly "as is" and without warranty of any kind, either express or implied. 155A The County, its agents, employees or contractors will not be liable for any damages, direct or indirect, or lost profits or data arising out of use of information provided on this map.

6 ALBERTA TRANSPORTATION Office ofthe Minister MM, Grande Prairie- Wapiti AR April 7,2014 Mr. Bill Neufeld Reeve Mackenzie County P0 Box 640 Fort Vermilion, AB TOH INO Dear Reeve Neufeld: Thank you for your letter regarding the East Peace Resource Road being upgraded to provide access year round. As Minister of Transportation, I am pleased to respond. My department currently has no plans to expand the highway network with an additional north-south corridor in this area. The completion of the paving of Highway 88 in 2014, provides year round access for the area. As you noted, the East Peace Resource Road has been used by the resource sectors for the past several years. Since this is a private road, public finds cannot be used to fund improvements. I encourage you to work with the resource sector to discuss the upgrading of this road as they are the current users and road authority. Should the road become a public road, this project could possibly qualii~ for Resource Road Program (RRP) funding. Although the RRP is not currently funded in Budget 2014, this project would be considered under the program should it meet all the program s criteria when funding becomes available. Thank you for taking the time to write. Sincerely, Wayne Drysdale Minister APR cc: Honourable Frank Oberle, MLA Peace River Pearl Calahasen, MLA Lesser Slave MACKENZIE FORT VERMILION OFFICE 324 Legislature Building, Avenue, Edmonton, Aiberta T5K 2B6 Canada Telephone Fax , Junction Point Village, Street, Grande Prairie, Alberta T8V 8H5 Canada Telephone Fax JWa,edan reryrtedpaper

7 September 11, 2014 The Honourable Robin Campbell Minister of Environment and Sustainable Resource Development 323 Legislature Building Avenue Edmonton, AB T5K 2B6 Dear Minister: RE: EAST PEACE RESOURCE ROAD Mackenzie County, Northern Sunrise County and the MD of Opportunity passed a motion requesting your support for upgrading a road through the Blue Hills area (Mackenzie County) to Peace River known as the East Peace Resource Road (P5 Road) with year-around access. Please see the attached map. During our prior meetings, the three municipalities requested that Alberta Transportation considers this important North-South Alberta link in their transportation plans. We believe this route is paramount for future resource extraction. Thank you for your consideration and we are looking forward to working with you on this initiative. Sincerely, Bill Neufeld, Reeve Mackenzie County Attach. c: Hon. Frank Oberle, Minister of Aboriginal Relations, MLA Peace River Hon. Wayne Drysdale, Minister of Transportation Ms. Pearl Calahasen, MLA Lesser Slave Mackenzie County Council MD of Opportunity Council Northern Sunrise County Council

8 26th Base Line TY LIGHTS Mackenzie Hwy Bushe River Child Boyer River #207 Hwy 697 #164a La Crete #164 Machesis Forest Hwy 697 Fort Vermilion Fort Vermilion #173b Highway 88 Connector Beaver Ranch Tallcree #163a #173a Beaver Ranch # Paddle Prairie Metis Settlement #1 Tallcree # ERN LIGHTS NORTHERN LIGHTS Carcajou Settlement th Base Line #187 MACKENZIE NORTHERN SUNRISE Wadlin Indian Reserve #173c Notikewin 93 24th Base Line Manning Manning OF SUNRISE UPGRADED 89 23rd Base Line LEGEND: Sixth Meridian Whitemud UPGRADED COMMUNITY 85 22nd Base Line Figure 8 Recreational Area 84 Hwy 986 NORTHERN Three Creeks Woodland Cree Hwy 986 Loon 235 Red Ea CANA83-10TM115 NOT TO SCALE Peace River Peace River Greene Valley Duncan 151K NORTHERN DISCLAIMER SUNRISE 155B Utikoomak Information on this map is provided solely for the user's information and, while thought to be accurate, is provided 155 strictly "as is" and without warranty of any kind, either express or implied. 155A The County, its agents, employees or contractors will not be liable for any damages, direct or indirect, or lost profits or data arising out of use of information provided on this map.

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