OIL SANDS AND CANADA’S WATER RESOURCES

Kinge of DremesMLIS

Government Information Sources

OIL SANDS AND CANADA’S WATER RESOURCES: JUNE 17, 2010

DISCUSSION POINTS What are the Oil Sands? Extraction methods Environmental and Other Concerns Federal Agencies & the Oil Sands Provincial Agencies & the Oil Sands Questions

OIL SANDS 140,000 km2 of Northern Alberta &

Sask. 175 billion barrels of proven reserves Estimates of actual reserves exceed 1.5

trillion barrels

EXTRACTION METHODS Surface mining In situ Steam-

Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD)

ENVIRONMENTAL AND OTHER CONCERNS 3 sources of contamination

Airborne; Water-borne; Surface-water runoff Increase in cancer rates and other health

issues Harm to fish and wildlife Water quality (Hg, Pb, As, napthenic acids) Water quantity Groundwater contamination Greenhouse gases

FEDERAL AGENCIES & THE OIL SANDS

FEDERAL RESPONSIBILITIES Federal Acts

Fisheries Act Canadian Environment Protection Act (CEPA) Canada Water Act Canadian Environmental Assessment Act Species at Risk Act Migratory Birds Act National Parks Act

Federal government has no jurisdiction over ground water

PROVINCIAL AGENCIES & THE OIL SANDS Alberta

Industry

PROVINCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES Alberta

Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act

Water Act No existing policy to protect or restore

wetlands Regional Aquatic Monitoring Program

(RAMP) Industry initiative, but Alberta relies on its

information Results not made public

CONCLUDING REMARKS Federal and Provincial governments have

been neglecting the effect of oil sand operations on Canada’s water resources

Changes needed: Increase monitoring of water supply Enforce existing acts and laws Develop legally binding regulations, permits

and authorizations (DFO & Environment Canada)

Increase transparency for findings Reduce reliance on industry-supplied data Establish an ecosystem base flow (EBF)

QUESTIONS?

REFERENCESBrown, G., Moorhouse, J., Grant, J. “Opening the Door for Oil Sands Expansion: The

Hidden Environmental Impacts of the Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipeline”. Drayton Valley, AB : Pembina Institute for Appropriate Development. 2009. Available: http://pubs.pembina.org/reports/gateway-upstream-report.pdf . [15 Nov 2010]

Canada. Parliament. House of Commons. Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development. Minutes of Proceedings. (Meeting No. 25, 17 June 2010) 40th Parliament, 3rd Session. (Online). Available: http://www2.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx?DocId=4642266&Language=E&Mode=1&Parl=40&Ses=3. [15 Nov 2010].

Canada. Parliament. House of Commons. Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development. Evidence for Meeting 6. (Meeting No. 6, March 30, 2010) 40th Parliament, 3rd Session. (Online). Available: http://www2.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx?DocId=4402785&Language=E&Mode=1&Parl=40&Ses=3. [15 Nov 2010].

Liberal Party of Canada. “The Hidden Dimension: Water and the Oil Sands”. 18 Aug 2010. Available: http://francisscarpaleggia.liberal.ca/files/2010/08/The-Hidden-Dimension_Water-and-the-Oil-Sands.pdf [15 Nov 2010].

New Democrat Party of Canada. “Missing in Action: The Federal Government and the Protection of Water in the Oil Sands”. 25 Sep 2010. Available: http://lindaduncan.ndp.ca/sites/default/files/NDP%20Report_Oil%20Sands%20and%20Water%202010%20single%20print.pdf . [15 Nov 2010].