Prime Minister Mark Carney’s recent move to accelerate a new oil export pipeline to the West Coast has intensified the need for Ottawa to make a decision regarding a longstanding environmental concern in the Northern Alberta oilsands – the issue of tailings ponds.
The region’s oil production is projected 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 brimming with decades’ worth of industrial mining wastewater, which is both toxic and harmful to wildlife. Local residents are anxious about the potential health implications and environmental impact.
To prevent birds and wildlife from accessing the water, air cannons operate continuously at the perimeter of the tailings ponds, alongside numerous scarecrows in work attire. The scale of the issue is immense, equivalent to around 600,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools or submerging the Island of Montreal under three meters of water.
The volume of tailings fluid has surged by 50% over a decade, as reported by the Alberta Energy Regulator. As the ponds reach capacity, the industry is advocating for government regulations permitting the treatment and subsequent release of the fluid. Simultaneously, some Indigenous leaders are urging a slowdown in oilsands production until the tailings ponds dilemma is adequately addressed.
Alberta’s Environment Minister, Grant Hunter, emphasized the necessity of advancing scientific solutions rather than ignoring the issue. He stressed the importance of providing industry with the tools to treat and release wastewater if production levels are to increase.
By the year’s end, the Alberta government intends to specify the required water quality standards for potential releases. However, since waterways fall under federal jurisdiction, Ottawa will need to either adopt the proposed regulations, propose modifications, or retain the current ban.
Industry players assert their readiness to treat tailings water, awaiting clarity on water quality standards. They emphasize that addressing tailings ponds is pivotal for effective land reclamation efforts.
If the treat-and-release approach is sanctioned, the water could be discharged into the Athabasca River, which traverses various Indigenous communities before reaching the Northwest Territories and the Arctic Ocean.
While some anticipate treat-and-release with optimism, Indigenous leaders, such as Chief Melody Lepine, express reservations due to historical concerns about water contamination and its repercussions on health. They advocate for thorough assessment and assurance of technology safety before considering such practices.
The pressure is mounting on Ottawa to take action, with industry efforts focused on developing and testing wastewater treatment technologies. Ottawa’s stance remains undisclosed, with the federal government yet to disclose a timeline for regulatory decisions on tailings ponds.
Overall, the debate surrounding the treatment and release of tailings water underscores the complex interplay between environmental conservation, industry development, and Indigenous concerns in the oilsands region.