Interim Care & Maintenance phase: what it means and why it matters

Imperial is sharing information and seeking your feedback on Imperial’s Interim Care & Maintenance (IC&M) plans to inform how water, wildlife, waste, and community engagement will be managed during this phase of the project.

Article

Overview

Closure planning through the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board (MVEIRB) Environmental Assessment (EA) process is expected to take several years. The IC&M phase acts as a bridge between the end of production and final closure plan implementation, allowing Imperial to continue key activities.

Imperial’s current Operations Authorization (OA) from the Canada Energy Regulator (CER) and Type A Water License from the Sahtú Land and Water Board (SLWB), are set to expire in May 2028.

To remain permitted beyond this date, two separate authorizations will be required, and preparations for the new/revised OA and Type A Water License are underway, with application submissions planned for December 2026.

In response to past feedback from Sahtú communities and organizations on the importance of early regulatory engagement, Imperial is engaging Sahtú communities on select IC&M management plans, prior to regulatory submission.

Click on the icons below to learn about the critical work included during the IC&M phase:

Keeping wells safe

Continue well suspension and early abandonments, physically sealing wells and preventing potential pathways between the reservoir and the surface, reducing long-term environmental risk.

Protecting water and the environment

Key environmental monitoring programs will continue during IC&M, including the Aquatic Effects Monitoring Program (AEMP). These programs monitor the Mackenzie River, fish health, ground water, and surface water quality. Ongoing monitoring helps maintain continuous data, identify trends, and detect potential issues early.

Closure takes time

The MVEIRB-led Closure EA will take several years. IC&M allows Imperial to responsibly manage the site while the closure regulatory process is underway anticipated for approximately three to seven years.

Continued site presence

Even after operations stop, Imperial will maintain a local presence in Norman Wells to watch over the facilities, environment and maintain personnel and public safety.

Supports closure planning

Advancing environmental site assessments will help better understand historical impacts in the soil and groundwater across the site to support final closure and reclamation planning. When operations end, more areas will become available for assessment. This work will inform remediation needs and inform development of a final closure plan.

Environmental monitoring

Environmental monitoring, including water quality (surface and groundwater), aquatic life and wildlife monitoring around the facility.
Water use (Mackenzie River)

Anticipating an 85% reduction in water use from operations. Imperial will continue using water from the Mackenzie River, primarily for ice road construction once production operations ends.
Emergency response planning

Emergency response planning will continue, including planning for potential wildfires in the region and the associated response measures.
Well suspensions and abandonments

Well suspensions and abandonments, to seal and secure wells, installing plugs and barriers prior to final closure and reclamation.
Waste management

Although the site will no longer be in an operating state, active waste management will continue including safe storage and disposal activities.
Early demolition

Imperial will advance early demolition activities; early demolition removes surface infrastructure to open up the footprint to assess historical contamination, informing final closure planning, and remediation efforts in the 2030s+.
Fuel terminal operations

Ongoing fuel terminal operations under existing permits, with no anticipated interruption to diesel supply and jet fuel for the region.
General surveillance

General surveillance will remain in place, with personnel on site as well suspension and downhole abandonment activities progress.

Engagement process

Overview

Imperial is engaging Sahtú communities and organizations to share information on the IC&M phase and gather feedback to inform the IC&M application.

Desired outcome – IC&M management and engagement plans developed in collaboration with Sahtú communities and submitted to the CER and SLWB.

Click on the status bar to learn about the different phases of the IC&M application engagement process and access select management plans:

Overview of IC&M phase and engagement process

IC&M Phase 1 engagement summary – coming soon!

Sharing IC&M management plans, for review and feedback

Links to draft IC&M management plans:

Community engagement plan
Coming soon - Aquatic effects monitoring plan (AEMP) – The updated AEMP (ver 5) will be submitted to the SLWB by July 31 and will be posted on the Online Review Sytem for review through the regulatory process
Coming soon - Groundwater management plan
Coming soon - Wildlife management plan
Coming soon - Waste management plan

Learn more about the management plans Imperial intends to update in 2026, and when the company expects to have a draft available for community review and comment.

How to provide feedback

In addition to ongoing direct engagements with Sahtú communities and organizations, written submissions on the IC&M management plans can be sent to normanwellscommunity@esso.ca.