Pembina reacts to Alberta Environment oilsands monitoring announcement

CALGARY, AB — Nathan Lemphers, policy analyst
for the Pembina Institute responded to Alberta Environment's announcement of a
provincial environmental monitoring panel.

"It is a step forward for the
Alberta government to concede that the current monitoring system for the oilsands
is inadequate, but this announcement needs to be kept in perspective. The
government has asked for recommendations for a world-class monitoring system,
but it's uncertain when or even whether they will be implemented.

"The Royal Society of
Canada review has flagged that the government is not keeping pace with oilsands
development, especially with environmental assessment and monitoring. Even with
improved monitoring it will take years before there is sufficient data to make
science-informed decisions about environmental impacts of oilsands development.

"Until the system is fixed
and we have the results from a new monitoring system, the only responsible
action the Alberta government can take is to stop issuing new approvals for oilsands
projects."

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