Ottawa wants to expand the oilsands, but the industry's wastewater problem will grow with it
asserted
problem → want → it
There is an intense debate about the idea of treating and releasing tailings water
The recent decision by Prime Minister Mark Carney to fast-track a new oil export pipeline to the West Coast is adding urgency for Ottawa to finally decide what to do with a long-standing environmental issue plaguing the oilsands in Northern Alberta — what to do with tailings ponds.
asserted
Ottawa → be → ponds
Oil output in the region is set to grow and the Alberta government wants to double the amount of crude production.
asserted
government → set → production
Yet, ever since the first oilsands mine was built about 60 years ago, the industry has been banned from releasing any water.
asserted
industry → build → water
As a result, large tailings ponds throughout the region are filled with decades worth of industrial mining wastewater.
asserted
ponds → fill → wastewater
For those who live in the region, they fear the harmful health effects, in addition to the impact on the environment.
asserted
they → live → environment
All day, every day, every few seconds, air cannons blast on the edge of the tailings ponds to help deter birds, ducks and other wildlife from the water, in addition to dozens of makeshift scarecrows dressed in overalls and hard hats.
asserted
cannons → blast → overalls
An aerial view of a tailings pond, which holds mining wastewater and contains various contaminants.
asserted
which → hold → contaminants
The amount of tailings fluid continues to increase after growing by 50 per cent over a 10-year period from 2014 to 2024, according to the Alberta Energy Regulator.
uncertain
amount → continue → Regulator
As tailings ponds fill up, the industry is urgently pushing for government regulations allowing for the fluid to be treated and then released.
asserted
fluid → fill → regulations
At the same time, some Indigenous leaders are calling for oilsands production to slow down until this issue is properly resolved.
asserted
issue → call → time
Tailings ponds are at capacity and no one wants more of the storage lakes built, said Alberta's Environment Minister Grant Hunter, in an interview with CBC News in Fort McMurray.
asserted
Hunter → want → McMurray
"The solution isn't just to keep doing nothing and put our head in the sand.
asserted
solution → keep → sand
The solution is to actually prove out the science," he said.
asserted
he → prove → science
"We cannot say to industry, 'we want you to double production,' and then not give them the tools to be able to do proper treat-and-release."
asserted
you → say → treat
Prime Minister Mark Carney announces the proposed Pacific Link pipeline will be fast-tracked during an event in Fort McMurray, Alta., on Oct. 1.
asserted
pipeline → announce → Oct.
By the end of the year, the Alberta government plans to lay out exactly what quality standards have to be met for water to be released.
asserted
water → plan → year
Still, the waterways fall under federal jurisdiction, so it will be up to Ottawa to adopt those proposed regulations, suggest changes or keep the ban in place.
asserted
it → fall → place
Companies insist they have the technology and expertise to treat tailings water.
asserted
they → insist → water
They just need the regulations to know what water quality standards have to be reached.
asserted
standards → need → regulations
Companies say they will never be able to properly clean up large amounts of land until the tailings ponds are addressed.
asserted
ponds → say → land
"Treating and release is really critical to enabling the large-scale reclamation of these facilities," said Claire Greenwood, a vice-president with Suncor Energy, while speaking at a recent energy conference in Fort McMurray.
asserted
Greenwood → enable → McMurray
"These tailings facilities are not meant to be permanent parts of the landscape in the region.
asserted
facilities → mean → region
We have full intention of actually turning those tailings ponds into reclaimed sites.
asserted
We → have → sites
And so that's why we're looking for that treatment release."
asserted
we → look → release
The company rejected interview requests from CBC News and would not provide access to a water treatment demonstration facility near Fort McMurray.
asserted
company → reject → McMurray
From left: Suncor's Claire Greenwood, Imperial's Jessica Dillabough and Alberta Environment Minister Grant Hunter speak in favour of developing a treat-and-release policy for the industry, while speaking on a panel during the Oil Sands Expo in Fort McMurray on Sept. 16.
asserted
Greenwood → speak → Sept.
If treat-and-release is allowed, the water would be pumped into the Athabasca River, which flows directly north from Fort McMurray and the oilsands region to several Indigenous communities before the water eventually drains into the Northwest Territories and the Arctic Ocean.
asserted
water → allow → Territories
For Lenny Hansen, the Athabasca River has always been a part of his life, since he was a kid growing up in Fort McMurray.
asserted
he → grow → McMurray
He's caught walleye, northern pike and other fish, with frequent sightings of other wildlife near the banks such as bears, moose and geese.
asserted
He → catch → bears
For 33 years, he worked in the oilsands.
asserted
he → work → oilsands
In retirement, he's a tour guide taking visitors up the river in his boat.
asserted
he → take → boat
For him, treat-and-release is not a concern.
asserted
treat → treat → him
"I think it's a great idea and I've seen what they do.
asserted
they → think → what
I think it's a really good process," said Hansen, a member of the Fort McMurray Métis District 17.
asserted
Hansen → think → District
Frustrations growing
Treating and releasing tailings pond water into the Athabasca River has alarmed some Indigenous leaders and their communities.
asserted
Treating → grow → leaders
When representatives from Suncor Energy visited Fort Chipewyan last month, they hoped to demonstrate to the community how their treatment technology worked.
asserted
technology → visit → community
Instead, they quickly left when they were greeted by protesters.
asserted
they → leave → protesters
Chief Melody Lepine leads the Mikisew Cree First Nation (MCFN), which is based in the Fort Chipewyan region, north of Fort McMurray.
asserted
which → lead → McMurray
She feels the provincial government is forcing her community to accept treat-and-release, especially after the federal and provincial governments signed their MOU this past summer.
asserted
governments → feel → MOU
…and 26 more, not listed.
The Aporia
