Toxics

 

Toxins from the Alberta oilsands are damaging fish in the Athabasca River, say scientists and First Nation representatives.

They're showing the public examples of deformed fish caught in the northern river over the last few years, at the University of Alberta's Lister Centre in Edmonton.

Fish with tumours, deformities and signs of disease or infection were collected from the lower Athabasca River, Athabasca Delta and Lake Athabasca, downstream from the oilsands.

University of Alberta ecologist David Schindler says the National Pollutant Release Inventory, Canada's legislated, publicly accessible record of pollutant releases and transfers, is proof of the harm caused by oilsands' toxins going into the water.... Read more »

Today fish collected from the lower Athabasca River, Athabasca Delta and Lake Athabasca were on display in Edmonton showing deformities, lesions, tumours or cysts, and indicators of infection or disease.

Local fishers are finding unhealthy fish has increased substantially. Studies show that the oil sands industry's release of airbourne pollutants could be a factor in the sick fish.

David Schindler said in a press release the National Pollutant Release Inventory "shows that the oil sands industry is releasing large volumes of airborne pollutants." He continued "Peer-reviewed scientific studies show that these substances, which are toxic at low concentrations, are not only from natural sources, but oilsands mining and processing are important additional sources." He added "Deleterious substances have been deposited in the waters in clear violation of the federal Fisheries Act."... Read more »

From Press Conference 16 September 2010

Increasing numbers of unhealthy fish have been reported in the lower Athabasca River, Delta and Lake Athabasca. 

University of Alberta researchers documented unhealthy fish during 2008 sampling.  These waterbodies are located downstream of oil sands industrial development.  Recently, two peer-reviewed publications documented industrial releases of pollutants, which are toxic at low concentrations, to the Athabasca River and its tributaries.

A letter was released at the press conference calling on the Federal Government to establish a fish health monitoring program.

Specimens of unhealthy fish were on display at the press conference. The photos below are the first ones we received here.... Read more »

EDMONTON - Suncor Energy says it has taken a big step toward transforming one of its ugly duckling oilsands tailings ponds into an environmentally benign swan.

The oilsands giant is to announce next week that it is the first company in Alberta to successfully reclaim a tailings pond. The 2.2-square-kilometre area has been filled in and landscaped with 630,000 newly planted trees, bushes and shrubs.

"Pond 1 is now going to be known as Wapisiw Lookout. That is a Cree word that means swan," Suncor (TSX:SU) spokesman Dany Laferriere said Wednesday.

"This has not been done before. We have said that we could do it and this goes to show that reclaiming tailings ponds is possible and we are doing it."

Suncor says it will continue developing the site over the next 10 to 15 years into a mixed forest with wetlands that can support wildlife, including waterfowl.... Read more »