Alberta Tar Sands and Mackenzie River Delta

Federal Environment Minister Peter Kent unveiled a sweeping oilsands monitoring plan on Thursday, but there were quick calls for development to slow while the environmental results are tabulated - and some question who will be picking up the $50 million yearly tab for the program.... Read more »

OTTAWA — Canada will boost monitoring of pollution from its oilsands and hopes this will speed up Washington’s approval of a proposed $7-billion pipeline to transport heavy Canadian crude to the U.S. Gulf Coast, Environment Minister Peter Kent said on Thursday.

Environmentalists have long campaigned against developing the oilsands of northern Alberta — the world’s third largest oil reserve — on the grounds that development produces unacceptable amounts of greenhouse gases and other toxins.... Read more »

 EDMONTON — Pembina Pipeline crews were continuing their cleanup of a 1,300 barrel spill near Swan Hills on Thursday, with vacuum and skimmer trucks called in to remove oil from a small creek.

“We won’t be determining the cause of the leak until the cleanup is complete,” said spokesperson Shawn Davis.... Read more »

EDMONTON — National Geogprahic magazine has again focused attention on Alberta’s oilsands, this time with an article on Enbridge’s proposed Northern Gateway project titled “Pipeline Through Paradise.”

The magazine will hit newsstands this week, but the online version is available now.... Read more »

Canada will boost monitoring of pollution from its oil sands projects, hoping to speed up U.S. approval of a pipeline to transport crude to the Gulf Coast, Environment Minister Peter Kent said on Thursday.

Green groups have long campaigned against developing the oil sands of northern Alberta -- the world's third largest petroleum reserve -- on the grounds that development produces unacceptable amounts of greenhouse gases and other toxins.

Kent unveiled a C$50 million ($53 million) a year plan to start monitoring air and water quality in northern Alberta as well as the effects of oil sands development on biodiversity.

"It will provide the facts and the science to defend the product, which some abroad are threatening to boycott. There is already a great deal of disinformation and misinformation," Kent told a news conference.

Output from the oil sands is set to double to 3 million barrels per day by 2020.... Read more »