The recent move by Prime Minister Mark Carney to expedite a new oil export pipeline to the West Coast has heightened the need for Ottawa to make a decision on a long-standing environmental issue surrounding the oilsands in Northern Alberta – the management of tailings ponds.
The oil production in the region is poised to increase, with the Alberta government aiming to double crude production. However, since the inception of the first oilsands mine around six decades ago, the industry has been prohibited from discharging any water. Consequently, vast tailings ponds in the area are filled with decades of industrial mining wastewater, which is toxic and harmful to wildlife, raising concerns among residents about potential health effects and environmental impacts.
To prevent birds and wildlife from accessing the contaminated water in the tailings ponds, air cannons are constantly fired, and numerous scarecrows are strategically placed around the perimeter. The sheer volume of tailings fluid is staggering, equivalent to about 600,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools or covering the area of the Island of Montreal under three meters of water.
Over the past decade, the volume of tailings fluid has surged by 50%, as reported by the Alberta Energy Regulator. With the existing tailings ponds reaching capacity, the industry is urging for government regulations that would allow for the treatment and release of the fluid. Concurrently, some Indigenous leaders are advocating for a slowdown in oilsands production until the issue is adequately addressed.
Alberta’s Environment Minister Grant Hunter emphasized the necessity of acting on the issue rather than avoiding it. He stressed the importance of advancing scientific solutions to enable the industry to manage the tailings effectively while expanding production. The proposed plan by the Alberta government is expected to outline the water quality standards that need to be met for potential release, pending federal approval.
Industry players assert that they possess the necessary technology and expertise to treat tailings water effectively but await clear regulatory guidelines on the required water quality standards. They emphasize that addressing the tailings ponds is crucial for the comprehensive reclamation of the land.
If the treat-and-release option is approved, the treated water would be discharged into the Athabasca River, which flows through Indigenous communities en route to the Arctic Ocean. However, the prospect of releasing treated water into the river has sparked concern among some Indigenous leaders who fear the potential ecological impacts and risks to their communities.
Chief Melody Lepine of the Mikisew Cree First Nation expressed skepticism towards the provincial government’s push for treat-and-release, highlighting the community’s apprehensions and emphasizing the need for full confidence in the technology to safeguard human health and the environment before considering acceptance.
Meanwhile, industry efforts are focused on developing and testing technologies for treating wastewater, with ongoing water monitoring programs in place. However, Ottawa’s stance on the matter remains undisclosed, with federal ministers declining interviews and refraining from providing a clear timeline for regulatory decisions on tailings ponds.
The industry’s commitment to technological advancements and environmental protection is underscored by ongoing collaborations with research institutions to explore innovative methods for treating tailings water and mitigating contamination risks. Despite industry assurances of effective treatment technologies, concerns persist among Indigenous communities, underscoring the need for comprehensive evaluations and community consultations to ensure environmental and public health protection.