CALGARY, AB — Environmental groups are condemning the approval of the Total Joslyn North
Mine project, which fails to meet legal requirements for cumulative impacts
assessment and ignores growing concerns about lack of government oversight and
monitoring. The Oil Sands Environmental Coalition, represented by Ecojustice,
opposed the project in provincial-federal joint review panel hearings last
fall.
"This decision continues the practice of allowing oilsands development
despite increasing adverse effects, based on hopes that these effects can be
mitigated by research and undefined mitigation plans. The panel agreed with the
environmental coalition that impacts on threatened wildlife were not fully
assessed and key environmental management proposals are unproven," said Melissa
Gorrie, Ecojustice staff lawyer.
During joint review panel hearings, the environmental coalition highlighted
the project's significant environmental impacts and deficient environmental
assessment and the government's insufficient progress on oilsands regulation.
"Giving the green light to this project
despite a flawed impact assessment and recent scathing reviews of oilsands
environmental management from independent experts shows decision-makers aren't
taking criticism seriously," noted Jennifer Grant, oilsands program director
for the Pembina Institute. "The panel again acknowledges Canada and Alberta's
lack of progress in addressing environmental concerns, but approved the project
anyway."
Myles Kitagawa of the Toxics Watch Society said the Oil Sands Environmental
Coalition was very effective in conveying the deficiencies in the environmental
impact assessment process during these hearings.
"Our concerns were echoed by the Royal Society of Canada's recent findings
that the Alberta and federal governments have not kept pace with proper
environmental assessment and monitoring of oilsands developments," Kitagawa
said. "Approving another open pit mine is nothing short of irresponsible. We will
be exploring legal options to have this flawed decision overturned."
Members of the Oil Sands Environmental Coalition include the Pembina
Institute, Toxics Watch Society of Alberta and Fort McMurray Environmental
Association.
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Contact:
Jennifer Grant, oilsands program
director, Pembina Institute
(403) 538-7781
Melissa Gorrie, staff lawyer, Ecojustice
(780) 428-0033
Myles Kitagawa, associate director,
Toxics Watch Society of Alberta
(780) 907-1231
Karin Buss, counsel, Ecojustice
(780) 965-8905
Background:
Read the Oil Sands Environmental
Coalition's submission: http://www.pembina.org/pub/2068
Read the Oil Sands Environmental
Coalition's motion and affidavit arguing that hearing be
adjourned: http://www.pembina.org/media-release/2088
