The socio-economic environments of the communities within the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, including Fort McMurray, have been the subjects of a number of recent studies. Socio-economic impact assessments completed for oil sands development in the region have included the original Syncrude Impact Assessment (1973) and the Addendum to the 1973 Report (1978), the Application to the ERCB and the Environmental Impact Assessment for Expansion of the Syncrude Canada Mildred Lake Plant (1984, 1987), the Environmental and Socio-Economic Assessment Update (1992), and the Other Six Leases Organization Socio-Economic Impact Assessment. The Municipality of Fort McMurray has also undertaken a number of studies and research activities directed towards examining the existing state of the community and the future development of the region. The objective of this document is to provide an assessment of the current socio-economic conditions prevailing in the communities of Fort McMurray, Fort McKay, Fort Chipewyan and the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo. To accomplish that objective, this assessment provides an inventory of existing socio-economic conditions within these communities, outlines those aspects of the proposed project which may have socio-economic implications for the communities (expenditures, employment, land use), estimates the anticipated change in employment and population within the region, examines the implications of that growth upon the existing communities and outlines potential mitigation measures to minimize potential negative impacts and enhance positive benefits.