Alberta proposes giving oil priority over environment
John Cotter
Canadian Press
Thursday, October 27, 2005
EDMONTON -- Alberta is proposing sweeping changes to the way it manages its booming oil sands sector, but critics fear the new plan will run roughshod over the environment.
The proposed Mineable Oil Sands Strategy would make mining the top priority in development areas over other concerns such as forestry, rivers and wildlife. (link)
The change is expected to increase oil sands recovery and make development, including the reclamation of mined areas, easier to manage.
"We are developing a strategy that will help coordinate development in this area," Energy Minister Greg Melchin said Wednesday.
Recent reports suggest Alberta's oil sands could triple production to as much as 1.2 million barrels a day in the next 20 to 25 years.
With enough investment, the oil sands could contribute up to half of Canada's oil supply by 2020, an increase of more than 25 per cent.
Environmental groups such as the Pembina Institute warn the Alberta government's proposal marks a fundamental shift in policy. (link)
In the past, oil sands mining has been permitted on the condition that rivers remain intact, the integrity of watersheds is maintained and key wildlife corridors are preserved.
Under the proposal, strip-mining the oil sands would take priority over protecting the environment, said Pembina Institute spokesman Chris Severson-Baker.
He estimated the plan would mean writing off 2,800 square kilometres of boreal forest.
"Albertans who value the integrity of the province's boreal forest and the people who live, fish, hunt and trap in the Athabasca region should be concerned about this strategy," he said.
Severson-Baker called on the province to shelve the strategy and come up with a better plan.
Alberta Environment Minister Guy Boutilier said the proposal would balance economic development and environmental protection.
"The environment is our mother ship," he said in a release.
The proposal would allow companies to reroute some tributaries of the Athabasca River. Any fish habitat lost from such activity would have to be replaced.
© The Vancouver Sun 2005
Alberta Ministry of Energy Mineable Oil Sands Strategy pages
Posted by Arthur Caldicott on 27 Oct 2005