Alberta Environment strikes panel to monitor oil sands

Announcement precedes results of report expected from federal government tomorrow

By Jeff Lewis

December 20, 2010

Alberta Environment Minister Rob Renner is jumping the gun on environmental monitoring in the oil sands ahead of a report expected tomorrow from his federal counterpart, John Baird, and Elizabeth Dowdeswell, chair of the Oil Sands Advisory Panel, looking at the same subject. Renner announced the creation of a “world-class” monitoring system this afternoon at a press conference in Calgary.

Federal and provincial regulators have been taking heat for negligent oversight of the mining region north of Fort McMurray. The province is setting up a panel of its own to head off criticism that it has been largely absent in monitoring growth in the bitumen belt.

Renner said the work is important to ensure Alberta maintains its “social license” to develop the resource. “We need to get on with this.” The panel, whose members will be announced in early 2011, will advise the minister on how best to monitor the condition of the Athabasca River and any downstream effects tied to oil sands development.

The panel’s work follows the formation of another panel struck this fall to examine gaps in the current Regional Aquatic Monitoring Program. The new panel’s work will be much broader, the environment minister said. “We need to ensure the oil sands are developed under the closest scrutiny,” he said, pledging the system will be transparent and scientifically rigorous. “It must be credible.”

Details were scarce, but you can read more here, or else view the terms of reference outlining the panel’s objectives here.