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Major changes are expected in a variety of resource sectors, including hydroelectric generation, oil and gas, mining, forestry and fisheries. Locally, hydroelectric facilities and operations will need to be adapted to changing flow regimes associated with an altered timing and magnitude of snowmelt runoff. Perhaps more important, however, will be a need to consider the implications of future impoundments as the needs for additional and renewable energy increase, particularly on the northward-flowing Mackenzie River system. Where older infrastructure in the Arctic overlies thaw-sensitive permafrost, some form of structural or operational adaptation may be needed to deal with permafrost thawing, and there is evidence that some adaptive measures are already being undertaken (Section 4.4). An important issue for the mining industry is the containment of wastes. Historically, the industry has relied on the impervious nature of permafrost to ensure long-term storage, but future permafrost thaw could eliminate the option of such surface-storage approaches and require remediation of older storage sites. In the case of the oil and gas industry, changing climate will affect exploration, production and delivery. Projected reductions in sea-ice cover, for example, are likely to be beneficial to exploration and development in both the energy and mining sectors, leading to further economic development.
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