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What is the Government of Alberta doing to protect the environment during oil sands development?
Addressing the protection of the environment during development of this resource is a priority for the Alberta government. Stringent legislation and on-the-ground measures are already in place to protect the air, land and water during oil sands development. We continually strive to improve and progress in this area. The government has established an Oil Sands Environmental Management Division in Alberta Environment specifically to enhance environmental protection during oil sands development.
Why is there so much development occurring in the oil sands?
The oil sands are an important resource for our province and country. They are also a secure and reliable source of energy for export markets like the United States, but we do not proceed with development at the expense of the environment.
What is the Government of Alberta doing to protect and monitor water quality of lakes and rivers in the oil sands region?
Alberta Environment has been monitoring the water quality in the oil sands region since the early 1970s. In the 1990s we increased monitoring efforts by establishing and joining the Regional Aquatics Monitoring Program (RAMP), which collects thousands of water samples from across the region each year. RAMP is an environmental monitoring program that assesses the health of rivers and lakes in the oil sands region of northeastern Alberta. RAMP works to identify long-term trends, regional issues and potential long-term effects related to industrial development.
RAMP is responsible for:
- Measuring water quality and quantity in rivers, streams and lakes
- Monitoring and assessing habitat quality of fish populations and benthic invertebrate communities
- Monitoring aquatic environments in the oil sands area for potential effects of all activities on the region’s rivers and lakes
- Collecting environmental data so that we can better understand the nature and impact of oil sands operations
- Comparing actual data with predictions and commitments made in environmental
impact assessments compiled by industry
- Incorporating traditional environmental knowledge into our monitoring activities
- Informing our stakeholders about our findings.
RAMP is a community-based program that includes representatives from Mikisew Cree First Nations, Metis Industry Consultation Association, Fort McMurray First Nations, Athabasca Chipewyan First Nations, Athabasca Tribal Council, Chipewyan Prairie First Nations, Fort Chipewyan Metis, Fort McKay First Nations, government and industry. These members provide direction on what input is collected for studies and how data is interpreted.
RAMP produces an annual report each year with fellow regional environmental partners Cumulative Environmental Management Association (CEMA) and the Wood Buffalo Environmental Association (WBEA) that goes out to members of the local community to update them on the air, land and water quality conditions in the region.
These reports are all publicly available at Measuring Up: Reporting our Environmental Activities to the Community
For more information about RAMP please visit
http://www.ramp-alberta.org/
http://www.cemaonline.ca/
http://www.wbea.org/
How much water is being taken from the Athabasca River by oil sands projects?
Strict limits are placed on industry water use through Alberta’s Water Management Framework for the Lower Athabasca River. This leading-edge framework puts a weekly cap on how much water oil sands companies can remove, which is tied to the fluctuating flow of the river.
All existing and approved oil sands projects will withdraw less than three per cent of the average annual flow of the Athabasca River. During periods of low river flow, Alberta Environment has a plan that limits water consumption to 1.3 per cent of annual average flow. At times, this can mean that industrial users will be restricted to less than half of their normal requirement given current approved development.
As well, the second phase of the Water Management Framework for the Lower Athabasca River may consider a specific flow level range when withdrawals will no longer be allowed.
How many barrels of water does it take to produce one barrel of oil?
Currently, it requires two to five barrels of fresh water for every barrel of oil produced in mining operations, and approximately 0.5 barrels of fresh water for in-situ operations. Up to 90 per cent of the water used can be recycled depending on the maturity of the facility and type of extraction. Industry is working on making production even more efficient so fresh water use is further reduced.
Has water quality been affected by the oil sands developments?
The quality of the river is of paramount importance to our government. Through the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act, strict limits are placed on pollutant releases for both air and water. As well, Alberta Environment places a great emphasis on monitoring the river to ensure water quality is not compromised for communities downstream. Alberta Environment strictly prohibits discharge of untreated process water into the Athabasca River.
Are there increased levels of mercury, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), or arsenic in water bodies or animals in the oil sands region?
The Athabasca River region is unique because of the naturally occurring oil sands that the river runs through. Sediment from the banks of the river are caught in the current and because of this, there are naturally occurring contaminants in the water. Data from the Regional Aquatics Monitoring Program indicates no increase in concentrations of contaminants as oil sands development has progressed.
The Regional Aquatics Monitoring Program also monitors polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) levels in the river. There is no doubt that PAHs are in the sediments downstream of the oil sands. This is due to the magnitude of the oily sand along the river banks through which the river has eroded naturally. PAH levels found in samples on other rivers in the area with absolutely no industrial oil sands activity have been found to be higher than samples taken downstream from oil sands developments. The sources in the area are natural.
There is evidence that PAH concentrations in delta sediments are lower in recent years than historically. This decrease is likely due to drier conditions in the last decade resulting in less erosion from these natural sources. Alberta Environment and Environment Canada are currently developing a research program to more fully address the impacts of these natural oil sands sediments on the ecology of Lake Athabasca and the delta.
Since Alberta Environment implemented trace analytical methods at our sampling stations we have seen that maximum concentrations of mercury are 8 parts per trillion prior to entering Lake Athabasca. The Alberta guideline, which is the most protective of any in North America, is 13 parts per trillion. To put it in perspective, a part per trillion is equivalent to one drop of detergent in enough water to fill a string of railroad tank cars 16 kilometres long.
For arsenic, all of the samples collected since 1990 have been below water guidelines. Alberta Health and Wellness has been actively sampling traditional foods in the area (e.g. wild meat) and found that arsenic concentrations in these were consistent with concentrations found elsewhere in Alberta and in the Yukon where there is no development.
What are tailings ponds and what affect are they having on near-by lakes and rivers?
Tailings are stable dispersions of bitumen, clay and water, formed during the oil sands extraction process. Currently, they are contained in settling ponds, which are a safe, effective way of managing them while they settle.
Any proposal to construct a new tailings pond is thoroughly examined by technical experts from a host of regulatory bodies including Alberta Environment, Alberta Sustainable Resource Development and the Energy and Utilities Board. Every effort is made to ensure that the design and proposed location of a pond is suitable from an environmental, resource conservation and economic point of view.
All tailings ponds are constructed with groundwater monitoring and seepage capture facilities and are closely monitored to ensure any seepage is well understood and minimized so there are no impacts to surface water. As an added level of protection, interceptor ditches are constructed around tailings ponds to prevent any seepage from entering groundwater systems or waterways.
New oil sands plants will generate fewer tailings, however, these technologies have their limitations, so research and development for the next generation of tailings management technologies is continuing.
The Government of Alberta recently awarded a $3 million grant to the University of Alberta’s School of Energy and the Environment (SEE) through the Energy Innovation Fund. This grant will result in improved tailings pond reclamation in Alberta’s oil sands region.
Are there fish deformities in rivers and lakes in the oil sands region?
The Regional Aquatics Monitoring Program (RAMP) and Alberta Sustainable Resource Development are responsible for monitoring the fish in the region. All of the data collected by RAMP has shown that fish deformities in the region are consistent with historic frequencies and have not increased through time.
For more information about RAMP please visit http://www.ramp-alberta.org/
How much do Alberta’s oil sands contribute to greenhouse gas emissions in Canada?
The oil sands make up about 4 per cent of Canada’s and less than one tenth of one per cent (0.06 per cent) of the world’s overall greenhouse gas emissions.
What is Alberta Environment doing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the oil sands?
In 2007, Alberta became the first jurisdiction in North America to legislate greenhouse gas reductions on large industrial facilities. This legislation resulted in the July 1st deadline when Alberta facilities that emit more than 100,000 tonnes of greenhouse gases a year will be required to reduce their emissions intensity by 12 per cent.
Industry is taking steps to emit fewer greenhouse gases. In fact, oil sands projects have reduced their carbon dioxide emissions intensity by up to 45 per cent since 1990 and are working to reduce it even further.
In January 2008, the Alberta government released its action plan to address climate change. The new plan incorporates public, stakeholder and expert feedback from consultations held across the province.
The new approach builds on Alberta’s 2002 climate change action plan, taking the next step to ensure our province remains at the forefront of addressing this global environmental issue. Read the news release, the facts on climate change in Alberta and the overview of Alberta’s new plan.
Is human health being affected downstream from the oil sands?
The health of those living in the oil sands region and the ecosystem are paramount to the Alberta government and every concern is treated with great importance. We rely heavily on scientific testing and environmental monitoring to ensure the safety of all residents living near oil sands development.
Alberta Health and Wellness, in collaboration with the Alberta Cancer Board, conducted a health assessment of the population in Fort Chipewyan. The results were presented in Fort Chipewyan on July 25, 2006 and showed there was no evidence of increased rates of Grave’s disease, arthritis, congenital anomalies, asthma, leukemia, lymphoma, and other cancers in residents of Fort Chipewyan.
What becomes of the oil sands land after companies have finished extracting the oil?
Under Alberta’s strict reclamation standards, companies must remediate andreclaim Alberta’s land so it can be productive again. Alberta Environment and Alberta Sustainable Resource Development require reclaimed land to be able to supporta range of activities similar to its previous use. Alberta Environment ensures that the results of the company’s remediation and reclamation activities meet the department’s strict standards.
Has there been any reclamation of oil sands projects?
Yes. In March of 2008, Alberta designated a rolling forested area with hiking trails and lookout points as the first piece of oil sands land to be reclaimed. The Alberta government issued a reclamation certificate to Syncrude Canada Ltd. for the 104-hectare parcel of land known as Gateway Hill approximately 35 kilometres north of Fort McMurray.
The site was used for placement of overburden material removed during oil sands mining. By the early 1980s, the area was no longer needed and Syncrude began to replace topsoil and plant trees and shrubs.
Typically, oil sands mining requires the use of land for several decades. The reclamation process occurs throughout the life of the project, and the final reclamation certification occurs when the land is no longer in use and has been fully reclaimed.
Due to the long-term timeframes and massive scale of oil sands projects, reclamation of the land disturbed does not happen quickly but it does happen. There are currently 42,000 hectares of disturbed land in the area and over 6,500 hectares are undergoing reclamation.
What is the government doing to ensure proper environmental management is taking place in the oil sands region?
In January 2007, the government announced a new Oil Sands Environmental Management Division in Alberta Environment that is dedicated to develop this resource in an environmentally responsible way. The Alberta government allocated $6 million to operate this new division.
This Division adds 30 new staff to the already 100 staff working throughout the department on oil sands environmental issues. The new staff will focus on developing innovative policies for managing the oil sands that ensure we address cumulative effects. In June 2007, Alberta Environment launched a worldwide recruitment campaign, entitled Take on the World, to find the best minds in the world to work together to ensure Alberta continues to have a safe and clean environment.
By bringing staff together in an oil sands division, we are emphasizing the importance of having leadership, clear direction and strong relationships to establish a clear vision for the future of Alberta’s oil sands with environmental outcomes set across the spectrum.
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