AB Tarsands killing Saskatchewan lakes?

[Oscar]

----- Original Message -----
From: Elaine Hughes
To: Nilson,J. Min.Env.
Cc: Dale Hjertaas ; Sask Environmental Society ; Sask Eco Network ; Peter Prebble, MLA ; Forbes,D. Min. Water ; Ducks Unlimited Canada ; Dr. David Schindler ; Nature Sask
Sent: Thursday, June 29, 2006 12:10 PM

Subject: Saskatchewan Lakes dying from tarsands emissions?

Hello, Mr. Nilson:

Would you send me any info the Saskatchewan Watershed Authority has on the extent of the damage being done to our lakes in northern Saskatchewan from the sulphur dioxide emissions from Fort McMurray's tarsands, please.

Thanks.

Elaine Hughes
Archerwill, SK

[Oscar]

----- Original Message -----
From: Elaine Hughes
To: Ambrose, R. Min. Envir ; Min@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
Cc: Sask Environmental Society ; Sask Eco Network ; Nature Sask ; Nature Canada ; Forbes,D. Min. Water ; Ducks Unlimited Canada ; Dr. David Schindler ; Peter Prebble, MLA ; Borgerson, L. MLA ; Cdn. Wildlife Federation ; Council of Canadians ; Cline,E.Min.IR ; Nilson,J. Min.Env.
Sent: Monday, September 11, 2006 12:02 PM
Subject: Saskatchewan Lakes dying from tarsands emissions?

The Honourable Loyola Hearn, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans

Rona Ambrose, Minister of the Environment

Attached is Saskatchewan Environment Minister Nilson's reply to my query of June 29, 2006, pdf files 01 through 04 regarding Alberta's tarsands.

It's very unfortunate (and dangerous) that 1981 information is used as credible data...everything about our environment has changed enormously in 25 years!!!

Pollution doesn't recognize borders; polluters (all of which have names and addresses) must be held accountable for the damage they cause other natural systems and people. Monitoring isn't good enough ...this issue needs urgent attention and action.

....then there are Saskatchewan's own tarsands in the beautiful Clearwater River Provincial Park, waiting to join the frenzy!


Elaine Hughes
Archerwill, SK

(NOTE: Attachments will soon be added to this message. EH)

Full Report entitled "Calculating Critical Loads of Acid Deposition for Forest Soils in Manitoba and Saskatchwean" August 2006 is at:

http://www.ccme.ca/assets/pdf/critical_ ... 72_web.pdf

[Oscar]

----- Original Message -----
From: Sandra Finley
To: Elaine Hughes ; Ambrose, R. Min. Envir ; Min@dfo-mpo.gc.ca ; Adeleh2o Hurley
Cc: Sask Environmental Society ; Sask Eco Network ; Nature Sask ; Nature Canada ; Forbes,D. Min. Water ; Ducks Unlimited Canada ; Dr. David Schindler ; Peter Prebble, MLA ; Borgerson, L. MLA ; Cdn. Wildlife Federation ; Council of Canadians ; Cline,E.Min.IR ; Nilson,J. Min.Env.
Sent: Monday, September 11, 2006 10:32 PM
Subject: RE: Saskatchewan Lakes dying from tarsands emissions?

I would like to draw to attention:

The last of the pdf attachments (514 kb) on the original email from John Nilson, Minister of Environment, states:

"This year (2006) the Acid Rain Task Group (ARTG), a joint federal multi stakeholder working group received a contracted report "Calculating Critical Loads ..." It indicates that certain areas of the province (Saskatchewan) are presenttly receiving acidifying emissions that exceed the critial loads; ..." (from the Tar Sands).

Shall once again a Government in Canada be taken to court for its failure to enforce regulations?

Also from the pdf file: "Hudson Bay Mining and Smelting has drafted the ... study design." I guess we really don't need the Government.

Have we not learned enough about the deleterious effects of acid rain from the experience of Ontario, N.S. and N.B.? Why must it be repeated in Saskatchewan? While everyone sits on their hands?

Canada wishes to put pressure on the U.S. to reduce its so2 emissions. How hypocritical can we get?

http://www.ec.gc.ca/acidrain/towards_e.html
III "Keeping clean areas clean" policy

Ministers should endorse the "keeping clean areas clean" policy, which states:

In areas where an environmental cushion exists because pollution (i.e., ambient air levels or deposition) is below environmental limits, the consumption of this cushion will be minimized and opportunities for improvement will be sought.

Each province should develop the most appropriate approach to formally implement the policy in its jurisdiction by 2000.

The reason for keeping the air clean is because it has been found that the acidified lakes are "stubborn"; it has proven to be difficult to return them to health. It is not only the lakes, but also the forests (and human health) that are affected by these emissions.

The failure to enforce regulations is criminal behaviour, in my opinion.


Sandra Finley
Saskatoon, SK

[Oscar]

Alberta Tar Sands - In Photos

Sierra Club of Canada's Prairie Chapter Director, Lindsay Telfer, had a rare glimpse at the immense impact the Albera Tar Sands are having on the landscape.

Below are a series of photos taken on her trip over the area in October 2006. Click on:

http://www.sierraclub.ca/national/progr ... -over.html

[Oscar]

Concerns raised about acid rain on Prairies

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/saskatchewan/s ... -rain.html

Last Updated: Thursday, September 14, 2006 | 12:41 PM CT
CBC News

Acid rain has long been a concern in industrialized Central Canada, but a new study suggests it could also be damaging the forest environment in Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

According to a Trent University study done for the Canadian Council of Ministers of Education and released earlier this month, data from the 1990s show high levels of acid caused by nitrogen and sulphur deposits have been found in a small percentage of the forested regions of the north.

Acid rain is caused when rain is contaminated with nitrogen oxides, sulphur dioxide and other kinds of air pollution.

The Trent study found two per cent of the soil studied in Saskatchewan's forest region has acid levels above the threshold where it's believed it could cause harm to the environment. In Manitoba, the corresponding figure is seven per cent of the forest land, with acid levels above the "critical load."

Overall, acid levels on the Prairies are low compared to Central Canada. However, unlike in the East, emissions of acid-rain-causing gases have been rising in the West, the report says.

That worries Elaine Hughes, a self-described environmental activist, who has written to Saskatchewan Environment Minister John Nilson about acid rain falling in Saskatchewan's north as well as concerns it could be coming from Alberta's oilsands.

"This is a serious issue. I'm concerned about it, and I wanted it out there and I want accountability," she said.

In his reply to Hughes, Nilson said the province is considering new monitoring programs and is talking to Alberta about acid rain.

Hughes wants the province to push Alberta to stop oilsands development and crack down on polluters.

"What are we waiting for?" she said.

[Oscar]

NEW REGULATIONS FOR OIL SANDS AND OIL SHALE RESOURCES

http://www.gov.sk.ca/news?newsId=1f85d9 ... a006ff2831

News Release - May 7, 2007

New regulations come into effect today that will encourage more exploration of Saskatchewan’s oil sands and oil shale resources.

The new regulations have been developed after consultation with the industry and other jurisdictions, and are an update of regulations approved over 40 years ago. Under The Petroleum and Natural Gas Amendment Regulations 2007 oil sands and oil shale mineral rights will be available under the competitive bid and work commitment bid processes, respectively. Crown oil sands, oil shale rights and work commitment bid processes will be available for purchasers in the August 2007 land sale. The first ever bid process for crown oil sands and shale rights will occur along with the August 2007 land sale.

“We are optimistic about the potential for an oil sands and oil shale industry in the province,” Industry and Resources Minister Eric Cline said. “The regulations approved by the government today are competitive with Alberta, but are tailor-made to fit a Saskatchewan model in terms of land dispositions and what we consider a careful yet moderate approach to development of this resource.”

Previously issued oil sands and oil shale dispositions will continue to be administered under amended provisions to The Oil Shale Regulations, 1964 that have also been updated to today’s technical and economic realities.

Oil sands were identified in the province in the 1970s in an area north of the Primrose Lake Air Weapons Range but there has been limited interest until the last few years. One company has been drilling in the area north of the Clearwater River, and has reported encouraging results from the exploration. Exploration for oil shales in the Hudson Bay area of the province was conducted 40 years ago, and the area has seen renewed exploration by industry to evaluate the extent of the resource.

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For more information, contact:

Bob Ellis
Industry and Resources
Regina
Phone: 306-787-1691

[Oscar]

Published in Wadena News on May 16, 2007

Dear Editor,

Temptation was too great….

Starting in August 2007, (according to a recent Government Press Release New Regulations for Oil Sands and Oil Shale Resources), the Crown oil sands, oil shale rights, and work commitment bid process will be available for purchase, along with more land sales.

According to Minister Cline, after consultation with the industry and other jurisdictions, the new regulations are “…what we consider a careful yet moderate approach to development of this resource.”

Is that how the current environmental nightmare taking place in Fort McMurray started out, ….as a moderate development? Today, thanks to NAFTA and human greed, not only is this so-called ‘development’ out of control, it is Canada’s biggest polluter, and will, under continued pressure from our oil-thirsty neighbour to the south, only get worse. And, while a few people make the money, other people and nature for miles around will continue to be harmed from dirty air, dirty water, with sick and dying lakes and forests, and sick and dying people …

What areas in our own beautiful province will this latest feeding frenzy affect?

We can say goodbye to the clean air, clean water, and clean environment of the as-yet pristine area in the Clearwater River Provincial Park (that’s right - IN the park!) north of La Loche. . .and of the as-yet pristine Hudson Bay area of northeastern Saskatchewan!

The temptation was too great…it was just a matter of time!

Elaine Hughes
Archerwill, SK

=================================

Also published by the Saskatoon Star Phoenix on May 16, 2007 under the title: Saskatchewan set to repeat Alberta's environmental folly.

[Oscar]

PROVINCE DELIVERS FUNDS TO PRIMROSE LAKE COMMUNITIES TRUST FUND

http://www.gov.sk.ca/news?newsId=b14c49 ... 20c19598ec

News Release - July 31, 2007

The provincial government today delivered $4.5 million to the Community Development Fund of four northwest communities affected years ago by the creation of the Primrose Lake Air Weapons Range.

The money fulfils the province's commitment to the fund, which will be held in trust for the communities of Beauval, Ile-a-la-Crosse, Cole Bay and Jans Bay. The fund will enable the communities to pursue development opportunities and to capitalize on the North's strong economic potential.

"The province has delivered on its promise to assist the communities and families whose lives were affected by the creation of the weapons range," Northern Affairs Minister Joan Beatty said. "It took years of work with community leaders and our federal colleagues, but now we believe these northwest communities are well-positioned to play a greater role in a Saskatchewan economy that is the most prosperous in recent memory."

The province's money forms part of a larger package worth $19.5 million, which also includes funds from the federal government. The money will be held in a trust managed by a board of directors appointed by the four communities. The communities will be able to draw upon dividends earned by the fund to invest in worthwhile projects that further the local economy.

In addition, some of the provincial money will be used to make direct one-time payments of up to $10,000 to the few remaining Métis elders negatively affected by the range, or to their surviving families.

"I am very proud that the province has seen fit to acknowledge the important role of our elders, a longstanding request from the communities," Beatty said. "Community representatives have agreed on a list of approximately 185 eligible elders and families."

"This is directed, in part, to the elders," Highways and Transportation Minister and Athabasca MLA Buckley Belanger said. "We need to show respect for the leadership and perseverance they have demonstrated through the years."

"We're very happy that the Province has recognized the historical position of our elders and the current needs of our families," Beauval Mayor Alex Maurice said on behalf of the four communities. "We look forward to using the funds from our senior governments to better the lives of our people today, and for future generations."

The Primrose Lake Air Weapons Range was formed after the Province agreed in 1953 to give the federal government a lease in perpetuity to use the land for military purposes. However, several Métis families have long said that the creation of the range hindered their pursuit of traditional activities such as hunting and fishing.

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For more information, contact:
Scott Boyes
Northern Affairs
La Ronge
Phone: 306-425-6669
Email: sboyes@sna.gov.sk.ca
Cell: 306-425-8869

[Oscar]

Rising water demands in Tar Sands threaten famous Canadian Heritage River: Alberta’s Clearwater River


http://www.waterkeeper.ca/2010/04/07/clearwater/
Lake Ontario Waterkeeper April 7th, 2010

(TORONTO) — Opti-Nexen, one of the largest steam plant operators in the oil sands, wants to withdraw 17,000 cubic meters of water a day from Alberta’s Clearwater River. The Clearwater is a pristine, culturally significant wilderness river near Fort McMurray. The Clearwater received “Heritage River” designation in recognition of the its unspoiled beauty and its historical importance as a connecting link between the Churchill and Mackenzie river systems in the fur trade era.

Opti-Nexen’s daily water taking would be roughly equal to a city of 50,000 people. In contrast to a city, Opti-Nexen would not return the water to the Clearwater after using it. Opti-Nexen’s request is unprecedented. Most oil sands operators that melt deep deposits of bitumen with steam get their water from salt or freshwater aquifers. No water for steam plants is currently removed from the Clearwater or nearby Athabasca rivers.

“The Canadian Heritage Rivers Board designated the Clearwater River one of Canada’s leading rivers because it is remote and pristine and a precious part of Canadian history. If Opti-Nexen is allowed to start taking water from this river, what does that say about our priorities?” asks Ruth Kleinbub, a long-time advocate for the Clearwater River.

This pristine river originates in Saskatchewan and runs into Alberta where it empties into the Athabasca River at Fort McMurray. It was designated a Heritage River first by Saskatchewan in 1987 and later by Alberta in 2004. Historically, the Clearwater River was at the centre of the 18th century fur trade and was part of the voyageur route to the Arctic. The explorers Peter Pond, Alexander Mackenzie and Sir John Franklin canoed this legendary river. It is one of the few western rivers that remain as the voyageurs and Cree and Beaver nations once paddled it. The request for Clearwater River water is the result of Opti-Nexen’s failure to meet water-use targets. The company initially predicted that it would need two barrels of steam to produce one barrel of bitumen. In actual practice, it requires six barrels. Opti-Nexen is now scrambling to find a new source of water for its upgrader, and it hopes to draw upon the Clearwater River.

“We are deeply concerned about the example this water taking could set for the rest of the country. Canada’s environmental laws are supposed to protect the environmental and cultural integrity of the nation’s waterways. If the Clearwater River water taking is approved without public consultation and without independent scientific review, then any
Canadian river is vulnerable. If a river like the Clearwater does not get the best protection possible, then there is no hope at all for less pristine areas,” says Mark Mattson, an environmental lawyer and full-time Waterkeeper based in Toronto.

Opti-Nexen confirmed earlier this week that it plans to sell some of its heavy oil p properties and will focus on projects like the Opti-Nexen Long Lake project. Long Lake is just one of many steam plants facing water challenges in Alberta. The total area under lease for oil development in Alberta’s north is more than 80,000 square kilometres.

Contacts
Ruth Kleinbub: long-time resident who fought for the river’s protection (Fort McMurray): 780-791-2736
Mark Mattson: environmental lawyer and co-founder of several Waterkeeper organizations, including Lake Ontario
Waterkeeper (Toronto): 416-861-1237

More Background

Backgrounder: Oil Sands Steam Plant Industry & the Clearwater River
Opti-Nexen is one of the largest steam plant operators in the oil sands (also known as SAGD: Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage).

Opti-Nexen wants to withdraw 17,000 cubic meters of water a day the Clearwater River. One cubic meter of water is equal to 1,000 liters. The average Canadian uses 343 liters a day. Therefore Opti-Nexen wants to remove enough water from a protected Canadian Heritage River to sustain nearly 50,000 Canadian households every day.

The Clearwater River is a pristine river. It originates in Saskatchewan and runs into Alberta where it empties into the Athabasca River at Fort McMurray. It was designated a Heritage River first by Saskatchewan in 1987 and by Alberta in 2004 (more information).

Historically, the Clearwater River was at the centre of the 18th century fur trade and was part of the voyageur route to the Arctic (more information). The explorers Peter Pond, Alexander Mackenzie and Sir John Franklin canoed this legendary river. It is one of the few western rivers that remain as the voyageurs, and Cree and Beaver nations once paddled it (more information).

Opti-Nexen’s request is without precedent. According to the National Roundtable On the Environment most steam plants now draw their water from salty or freshwater aquifers. But no water for steam plants is now removed from the Athabasca or Clearwater rivers (more information).
Opit-Nexen’s troubled Long Lake project, like the majority of industry’s steam plants, has failed to meet its water targets and has now doubled its water demand. It has also failed to achieve bitumen production goals. The company initially predicted that it would need two barrels of steam to produce just one barrel of bitumen. Now it requires six barrels (more information).

According to its 2008 Sustainability Report, fresh water withdrawals increased from 735,000 cubic meters in 2007 to 1,890,000 cubic meters in 2008 due to increases in bitumen production (more information). Statoil has also expressed concerns about “water management challenges” and shortages for its SAGD operation (additional information as
referenced by: John Kus, Extra Heavy Oil in Canada, TEKNA Conference, Stavanger, Norway, January 23, 2008).

A 2009 report, commissioned by JOGMEC (Japan Oil Gas and Metals National Corporation) on the problems encountered by steam plants, notes that all projects, with the exception of two companies, have exceeded original water estimates or steam to oil ratios by often-extreme volumes. Some companies have used as much as 14 barrels of steam to produce one barrel of bitumen (more information).

In an exhaustive 2009 report on groundwater, the Council of Canadian Academies concluded that steam plants (also known as in situ) could ultimately use more water than mining operations:

Since more than four-fifths of the total bitumen reserves in Alberta are accessible only by in situ methods, the demand for groundwater for in situ production could be as great as or greater than the demand for surface water for oil-sands mining, unless new extraction processes are adopted. (p. 210) View background information as a PDF file.

Additional documents: NEXEN1 NEXEN2

[Oscar]

Nexen's "bait and switch" means trouble for the Clearwater River

http://www.water-matters.org/story/383

By JULIA KO, WATER MATTERS AND JEFF GALIUS — JUN 28, 2010

You've heard of "bait and switch," right? It's when a company advertises something that it can't deliver (say, a TV for $200), and then tries to get you to buy something at a higher price (say, a $500 TV) once you've made the trip to the store.

Bait and switch seems to be Nexen's strategy for its Long Lake oil sands project — with Alberta on the hook to ultimately supply more water to the project. The Long Lake project is different from other projects because it integrates steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) with upgrading. The original plan indicated that only saline water, which is unfit for human consumption, would be used to create steam to bring up bitumen (the SAGD process). The freshwater for upgrading the bitumen, through which some of the water is lost or consumed, would come from underground wells.

But like the $200 TV, the promise was too good to be true, and Albertans, and at least one of their cherished rivers, are being asked to pay a higher price. Nexen has now applied to withdraw up to 17,000 cubic metres of freshwater from the Clearwater River each day for this project. So, instead of this freshwater coming from already approved underground wells, Nexen is asking for water from the Clearwater River.

MAP: http://www.water-matters.org/story/383
Credit: Canadian Heritage River Systems, 2010

Nexen argues that it needs water to upgrade oil, but it's not asking for more water. It maintains that water from the Clearwater River is needed to "meet current and long-term upgrader water requirements in a sustainable and environmentally responsible manner" (Nexen, 2010: p.10). Nexen says it is "not increasing the volume of water our facility requires relative to the updated water balance that was submitted to the regulators as part of the Long Lake South [Environmental Impact Assessment Review]" (Bhardwaj, June 10, 2010); rather, it is looking for a change in the source of water.

Here's what's wrong with this picture.

The Long Lake Project has a history of using more water. In 2006, Nexen requested an increase in the use of water from an original plan of 2.4 barrels of steam for one barrel of bitumen to 3.3 barrels of steam for one barrel of bitumen produced. It also said that it might need more freshwater in the future if it needed more steam to bring up oil.

From the 2009 year end results reported by OPTI, who partnered with Nexen, and in an update by Nexen in February 2010, Nexen reported an average of five to six barrels of steam for every barrel of bitumen. The Long Lake Project was approved for three barrels of steam for one barrel of bitumen, so from 2009 to 2010 the Long Lake project has used almost twice as much water as originally planned. Industry averages indicate that most projects use 1 barrel of steam for 1.1 barrels of bitumen. (For more information please see, Drilling Deeper: The In Situ Oil Sands Report Card by the Pembina Institute, 2010). Thus, the argument that freshwater from the Clearwater River is needed to meet water requirements in an environmentally responsible manner seems contradictory.

The Clearwater River is not just any river. It is a Canadian Heritage River that deserves the best protection possible. It originates in Saskatchewan and flows into Alberta, where it empties into the Athabasca River at Fort McMurray. It was designated as a Heritage River first by Saskatchewan in 1987 and later by Alberta in 2004. The Clearwater River was an important route for fur traders in the eighteenth century and was part of the voyageur route to the Arctic. Peter Pond, Alexander Mackenzie, and Sir John Franklin canoed this legendary river. It is one of the few western rivers that has remained relatively untouched since the time the voyageurs, Cree, and Beaver nations once paddled it.

Albertans deserve a clear and transparent system to ensure the rivers and wetlands in the Fort McMurray region are not over exploited. Albertans are being asked to sacrifice a Canadian Heritage River for a secure water source in future oil production. Federal and provincial officials need to ensure that the Clearwater River is protected and that avenues for efficient water use are exhausted before Albertans lose a part of their Canadian heritage.

On July 5, 2010, Nexen plans to issue a public notice under the Water Act for public consultations for its application to withdraw 17,000 cubic metres of water a day from the Clearwater River. Look for the notice in local papers in Anzac, Wood Buffalo, and Saprae Creek. This notice will invite members of the public, which could include you, to submit Statements of Concern that will be reviewed by Alberta Environment.

Sources
Bhardwaj, Sachin. 2010. Environmental Specialist, Community Consultation and Regulatory Affairs email communication. May 14, 2010

Canadian Heritage River System. 2010. The Clearwater River. Website. (accessed May 13, 2010).
http://www.chrs.ca/Rivers/Clearwater/Clearwater-F_e.htm

Griffiths, Mary and Simon Dyer. 2008. Upgrader Alley: Oil Sands Fever Strikes Edmonton. Drayton Valley, AB: The Pembina Institute.

Healing, Dan. 2010. "Oilsands water plan raises fears for river: Long Lake project to draw 17,000 cubic metres a day." Edmonton Journal, April 9, 2010. (accessed May 14, 2010).
http://www.edmontonjournal.com/business ... resources/
Oilsands+water+plan+raises+fears+river/2778867/story.html

Nexen Inc. 2010. Nexen Provides Long Lake Project Update. News release. February 9, 2010. (accessed June 16, 2010).
http://www.nexeninc.com/en/Investors/NewsPresentations/
News.aspx?year=2010&release_id=1114148


Nexen Inc. 2010. Long Lake Source Water Project. April 2010. Application to Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Transport Canada, and Alberta Environment.

Moorhouse, Jeremey, Marc Huot, and Simon Dyer. 2010. Drilling Deeper: The In Situ Oil Sands Report Card. Drayton Valley, AB: The Pembina Institute (accessed May 14, 2010).
http://www.oilsandswatch.org/pub/1981

Nexen Inc. 2006. Long Lake South Environmental Impact Assessment. December 2006.

Long Lake South. Application to Alberta Energy and Utilities Board and Alberta Environment.

Nexen Inc. 2006. Request for Amendment Steam Capacity, Ash Processing Unit &

PAD 11 Approval No. 9485 to the Alberta Energy and Utilities Board. February 22, 2006.

OPTI Canada Inc. 2010. OPTI Canada Announces First Quarter 2010 Results. News release, April 29, 2010. (accessed May 14, 2010).
http://cnrp.marketwire.com/client/opti_canada/
release.jsp?actionFor=1155777&releaseSeq=1&year=2010

OPTI Canada Inc. 2009. OPTI Canada Announces Year End 2009 Results. News release, February 9, 2010. (accessed June 16, 2010).
http://cnrp.marketwire.com/client/opti_canada/
release.jsp?year=2010&actionFor=1114141&releaseSeq=1

Schlumberger. Oilfield Glossary: Steam-Oil Ratio. Sclumberger Inc. (accessed May 14, 2010).
http://www.glossary.oilfield.slb.com/
Display.cfm?Term=steam-oil%20ratio