FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 20, 2010
CALGARY, AB - Joe Obad, associate director of Water Matters, and Terra Simieritsch, policy analyst for the oilsands program for the Pembina Institute, responded to today's announcement that the Energy Resources Conservation Board (ERCB) has approved another tailings (the toxic liquid waste created by oilsands production) management plan, this time for Shell Canada's Muskeg River Mine project:
"It is concerning to see yet another tailings management plan approved by the ERCB when it clearly does not meet the requirements set out in Directive 074," said Obad. "The approval of this plan undermines the authority of the ERCB."
"The ERCB should be rejecting plans that do not meet its regulations concerning environmental impacts," said Simieritsch. "With each non-compliant tailings management plan the ERCB approves, it further erodes both its credibility as a regulator, and Alberta's credibility as a responsible developer of its resources."
"So far, Imperial Oil and Syncrude have both had noncompliant tailings management plans approved by the ERCB," Obad stated. "With today's approval of Shell's plans, we've lost another opportunity to show the world that Alberta regulators can regulate the oilsands industry in a meaningful way."
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Background:
Variance from ERCB Directive 074 Compliance Schedule for Shell Muskeg Fines Capture
By 2010 will be 4%, should be 20% to comply, short by 16%
By 2011 will be 13%, should be 30% to comply, short by 17%
By 2012 will be 34%, should be 50% to comply, short by 16%
Download:
Legal challenge to Syncrude tailings plan approvals
Review of Tailings Directive 074
Contact:
Joe Obad
Associate Director
Water Matters
Cell: 403-585-5826
Email: joe@water-matters.org
Terra Simieritsch
Policy Analyst, Oilsands Program
The Pembina Institute
Phone: 403-269-3344 ext. 102
Email: terras@pembina.org
