The Pembina Institute will outline the impacts of and propose solutions for managing the cumulative environmental impacts of oilsands mining development at the third of seven oilsands consultation meetings today in Fort McMurray, Alberta.
Satellite images of oilsands mining operations easily illustrate the environmental consequences of oilsands development, deemed by the United Nations Environment Program to be one of the 100 global "hot spots" of environmental change. But oilsands mining operations have only just begun. There are plans to strip-mine 3,000 square kilometers of boreal forest. In 2005 the Government of Alberta released its draft Mineable Oilsands Strategy (MOSS), which would give priority to strip-mining oilsands over environmental protection.
"The Government of Alberta needs to rein in the pace of oilsands development and ensure it has the systems in place to protect the environment," says Dan Woynillowicz, who is presenting on behalf of the Pembina Institute at 2:00 pm today at the province-wide Oilsands Multi-stakeholder Panel public input sessions.
"We need a vision for oilsands mining that supports the role government must play in protecting the environment," says Woynillowicz, a senior policy analyst with the Pembina Institute. "We need policies and regulations that protect the Athabasca River, address toxic tailings ponds, and ensure that industry is responsible for fully reclaiming the mines and restoring the boreal forest."
Woynillowicz sets out specific steps needed to achieve that vision:
- Implementation of regional plans, policies and regulations that limit the cumulative impacts of oilsands development on air, land and water. The plans should include a network of protected areas and wildlife corridors within the boreal forest.
- Establishment of protective thresholds - enshrined in government policy - that will not be crossed. These should ensure the maintenance of adequate flows in rivers, groundwater protection, air quality and conservation of wildlife habitat and species.
- Put a moratorium on new oilsands lease sales and project approvals until an adequate plan is in place to manage oilsands development.
An author of the Pembina Institute report, Oilsands Fever: The Environmental Implications of Canada's Oilsands Rush, Woynillowicz will highlight some of the impacts to the boreal forest and Athabasca River and uncertainties around reclamation of oilsands mining operations.
The Pembina Institute urges Albertans to attend the consultation sessions and/or file their comments online.
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For more information contact:
Dan Woynillowicz, Senior Policy Analyst
Cell: 403-888-6272
Chris Severson-Baker, Director, Energy Watch
Cell: 403-899-7423
Download: Oilsands Fever: The Environmental Implications of Canada's Oilsands Development - Fact Sheet