Notley says action will be taken on oilsands bird deaths
Premier Rachel Notley says the provincial government and the energy industry must be prepared to take action in light of a new incident of bird deaths at an oilsands site.
The Alberta Energy Regulator announced Tuesday it dispatched an inspector to the nearly completed Fort Hills oilsands mine north of Fort McMurray after Suncor Energy reported finding 123 dead and dying waterfowl and songbirds near a tailings pond.
The company said it had no immediate explanation for the deaths, which occurred Sunday.
Several high-profile cases of bird deaths at oilsands mines in the past have shone an environmental spotlight on the projects.
In an interview Wednesday, Notley said any time such an incident occurs it is a “risky time” for the industry.
She said she is waiting to get more information on this situation to help determine whether more steps need to be taken to ensure the province has “the most rigorous protections that we can.”
“It is our job in government and also the job of industry to do whatever is necessary to prevent it (bird deaths) going forward, on an evidence-based, fact-based, science-based set of recommendations,” Notley said.
“I think that’s critical to maintaining the reputation of the industry.”
Suncor said most of the birds involved were horned larks, a migratory species. The company has launched an investigation to figure out why the birds were in the area, despite the presence of working bird deterrent systems, including cannon, radar and scarecrows.
The incident recalls previous bird deaths at oilsands tailings ponds. Syncrude Canada was fined $3 million when more than 1,600 ducks were killed in a pond in 2008, but no charges were laid in 2010 when 550 birds had to be destroyed due to an early winter storm that forced them to land on ponds at Syncrude and Suncor.
In August, Syncrude Canada was charged with failing to properly store a hazardous substance in connection with the deaths of 31 great blue herons in 2015 at its oilsands mine, an incident not related to its tailings ponds.
The $17-billion Fort Hills oilsands project is expected to begin production later this year and ramp up to a capacity of 194,000 barrels per day of bitumen within 12 months. Its reserves are expected to allow it to operate for 50 years.
It is owned 50.8 per cent by Suncor, 29.2 per cent by French oil company Total and 20 per cent by Vancouver mining firm Teck Resources.
It is our job in government and also the job of industry to do whatever is necessary to prevent it (bird deaths) going forward