-- Subject to Change --

The Mars Institute, a federally incorporated not-for-profit organization registered in British Columbia, Canada, currently holds a land lease on a parcel of Crown Land on Devon Island, Nunavut (Indian & Northern Affairs Canada Land Lease #58H/7-1-2). The leased land covers the immediate area of the Haughton-Mars Project (HMP) Research Station Base Camp and the adjacent HMP Airstrip. The lease is in effect from 1 June 2008 through 31 May 2018.

This land lease was sought by the Mars Institute to help ensure that HMP activities may continue into the future under adequate conditions of safety, environmental protection, stability, security, and management ease. The Mars Institute remains committed to enabling other parties to continue accessing/using the leased land.

The present document summarizes the guidelines used by the Mars Institute to ensure or grant access and usage of Mars Institute leased land on Devon Island to different categories of third parties. In some cases (see below), obtaining permission in writing from the Mars Institute is required prior to accessing or using the leased land.

In those cases where permission from Mars Institute is not needed, it is recommended that Mars Institute be contacted prior to access to ensure that conditions of land access and use are safe (airstrip clear, active research experiments indicated) and environmentally sound (information on location of ATV trails).

1. Emergency Conditions of Access/Use

In an emergency, any party may access/use any part of the Mars Institute's leased land on Devon Island immediately and as needed.

Once the emergency is over, the party should inform the Mars Institute of this access and use at the earliest practical opportunity.

2. Normal Conditions of Access/Use

Under normal circumstances, three categories of third parties wishing to access/use Mars Institute-leased land on Devon Island are distinguished:

2.1 Canadian, Nunavut, and Local Government Agencies

Canadian, Nunavut, and Local Government Agencies on official business are expected to continue being able to access and use any part of Mars Institute leased land on Devon Island at any time.

The Polar Continental Shelf Project of Natural Resources Canada, in particular, will continue to be able to access and use the HMP Airstrip at any time as part of fulfilling its mission, including caching fuel at the airstrip.

2.2 Residents of Nunavut

Any resident of Nunavut may access any Mars Institute leased land on Devon Island as a private individual at any time.

If special uses of the leased land are needed, residents are encouraged to contact the Mars Institute prior to accessing the land to communicate to the Mars Institute the proposed land use and to find optimal ways of jointly using the land.

2.3 Other Third Parties

This category includes individuals who are not residents of Nunavut, any privately operated business, non-governmental organizations, non-Canadian government agencies, and any media.

These third parties are required to obtain permission in writing from the Mars Institute prior to accessing/using any land leased by the Mars Institute on Devon Island. The procedure to be followed by third parties in this category is summarized below:

Step 1: Information. Contact the Mars Institute and provide specific information on the purpose and duration of the requested land access and use.

Step 2: Agreement. Agree to abide by a set of terms and conditions under which the Mars Institute would grant the third party access or use of the leased land. The specific terms and conditions would depend on the purpose and duration of the requested land access and use.

Step 3: Permission in writing. Following agreement to the aforementioned terms and conditions, obtain from the Mars Institute permission in writing to access and use the leased land.

The above procedure is intended to assist the Mars Institute in helping all third parties needing to access or use the leased land, to do so while allowing the Institute to meet its responsibilities and obligations on the Haughton-Mars Project, in particular regarding safety, environmental protection, and security.

For further information, please contact:
Dr Pascal Lee, Director, Haughton-Mars Project, Mars Institute
E-mail: pascal.lee < at > marsinstitute.net, Tel: (408) 687-7103.