Athabasca Tar Sands Corridor Study. Volume 7A Appendix: Public Meetings - Phase 1

The philosophy of the Study as envisaged at the outset, is to obtain the maximum useful input from all those who might be affected in any way. The basis is complete disclosure by the Consultant Group of all relevant material and ideas. In order to provide the necessary background, technical people were brought in from industry to assist with its preparation and, among them Mr. R.F. Bell of Calgary Power Ltd. joined the Consultant Group for meetings with the public, providing helpful assistance in a variety of ways. Mr. Frank Belyea, from the Department of the Environment, participated all of the meetings and provided a most useful balance to the private sector Consultant Group. Public Meetings provide a useful form of interchange of opinion, ideas and factual information with their degree of success dependent to a great extent on the preparation for them. In the subject instance a lengthy (sixteen page) questionnaire was prepared and sent to some six hundred landowners in the area from Fort Saskatchewan north to Atmore at the southern edge of the wilderness area. Considering their detailed nature, the response of over one hundred and twenty to the questionnaire is most gratifying. Public Meetings were held in: Boyle: Community Centre Thorhild: County Office Athabasca: County Office Lac La Biche: Town Office, Council Chambers Fort Saskatchewan: Town Office, Council Chambers Conklin: Northland School Fort McMurray: Community Centre