Edmonton — Environmental public interest groups charge that in order to allow open pit oilsands mining in a sensitive wetlands ecosystem the Government of Alberta is ignoring its own process guidelines and rushing through an amendment to existing policy.
TrueNorth Energy is seeking approval this year for a new oilsands plant that would mine an estimated 1 billion barrels of oilsands from beneath the McClelland Lake Wetland Complex, destroying more than half of a rare wetland called a patterned fen. Located north of Fort McMurray near the epicenter of the rapidly industrializing oilsands region, the McClelland Lake Wetland Complex has been protected by provincial policy since 1996. If approved, TrueNorth's Project will begin affecting the wetland in approximately 2010.
Environmentalists say that a review of the 1996 policy, called an Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) is being rushed, with limited public consultation, in order to ram through an amendment that will allow mining in the McClelland Fens.
"The Government advertised their first public information session 4 working days before it occurred with a single ad that did not include the time, date, or location of the event," observed Jillian Tamblyn of the Alberta Wilderness Association. "They don't seem to want to make it easy to attend."
"Alberta Environment published their Plan Amendment Guidelines for an Approved Integrated Resource Plan in 1991," said Myles Kitagawa of the Toxics Watch Society. "It sets out a reasonable and responsible process for changing an IRP. The Government should follow it."
The Guidelines set out a 10-step process that includes a six-week public review period and a 12-department government review. "The Government could also convene an independent experts panel to offer advice," Kitagawa added, "an option that they chose not to follow. Instead they are circulating a 2-page survey asking people to rate the importance of protecting wetlands versus contributing to economic growth. This is a cynical and manipulative way of positioning the issue."
"The decision to amend the IRP must be well-informed, transparent, and offer reasonable opportunities for public input," said Gail MacCrimmon of the Pembina Institute. "The Government should be letting the public know how they will be making their decision and then reporting the reasons for their decision once it has been made."
The groups added that a multi-stakeholder organization, called the Cumulative Effects Management Association (CEMA), is currently examining the cumulative impacts of development on ecosystems in the oilsands area. When available in the next couple of years, this work will inform any changes to the IRP policy.
"There is no need to rush this decision", said MacCrimmon. "The 'more-oil-is-better' policy black-box should not be the sole criteria for mining this wetland. While there is no shortage of extractable oilsands in northern Alberta, the availability of sensitive ecosystems such as the McClelland Fen is limited." The public has 23 days to respond.
For more information contact:
Gail MacCrimmon, Pembina Institute
Office: 403-269-3344 ext 116
Jillian Tamblyn, Alberta Wilderness Association
Office: 780-542-6272
Myles Kitagawa, Toxics Watch Society
Office: 780-413-6930
For more information please see the backgrounder for this news release.