Releasing Waste Oil And Waste Into The Athabasca River Is Just One Of Many Options Guilbeault Says

Releasing processed waste oil and waste into the environment isn’t the only solution being considered to clean up the huge toxic lakes in northern Alberta, says federal Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault. Mr. Guilbeault said Wednesday that although his administration is developing regulations on how the waste could be drained into the Athabasca River, other solutions are being considered. “We have never said this is the only solution we are considering,” he said. “We have not ruled out the possibility of finding technical solutions to the waste pond issues.” UNESCO team in Alberta to determine whether Wood Buffalo National Park should be listed as endangered Mr. Guilbeau’s comments came as UNESCO researchers arrived in Alberta to examine threats to Wood Buffalo National Park, Canada’s largest. Researchers are to assess whether federal and provincial efforts to halt the park’s environmental slide are enough to prevent the United Nations agency from listing the park as a World Heritage Site in Danger – a move the agency has already called “probable”. One of those threats is tailings ponds, adjacent to the Athabasca River that flows into the park and the vast freshwater delta it protects. First Nations and environmental groups are concerned that the Alberta and federal governments have already decided that treating and releasing water into this river is the best way to go. Not so, said Mr. Guilbeau. “Some people tell us that the only solution is to disinfect the water and dump it in the river. We certainly don’t take it for cash,” he said. “That’s one of the options, but not the only option.” The government develops regulations in case the release of treated water is determined to be the best response. Regulations take time to develop and Mr Guilbeault said something should be in place by 2025 when the current lakes are depleted. Any releases would have to be of drinking water quality, he said. They must also be approved in Ottawa. “This cannot happen unless the federal government approves it.” He said other solutions are being considered, such as disinfecting the water and recycling it back into operation. Other proposed solutions include injecting the water underground. “Something has to be done,” said Mr. Guilbeau. “This has been unclear for quite some time.” Mr. Guilbeault said there is growing evidence that the waste is beginning to contaminate nearby groundwater and surface water. Whatever solution is found will have to work on a massive scale. The lakes currently hold about 1.4 trillion liters of contaminated water and continue to grow, hampering efforts to recover the mines. Mr. Guilbeault said Environment Canada is consulting with industry and First Nations. “The solution will not be decided by industry,” he said. In a series of tweets, Alberta Environment Minister Whitney Issik said the province has the situation in its own hands. “Albertans and Canadians should know that the Lower Athabasca Oil Sands region is one of the most controlled and studied areas on the planet,” he wrote. Documents leaked earlier this year to the Canadian Press detailing the results of a survey of provincial environmental monitoring scientists suggest they still don’t think Alberta has a good understanding of the overall impacts of the oil sands. We have a weekly Western Canada newsletter written by our BC and Alberta bureau chiefs, providing a comprehensive package of the news you need to know about the region and its position on the issues facing Canada. Sign up today.

title: “Releasing Waste Oil And Waste Into The Athabasca River Is Just One Of Many Options Guilbeault Says Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-24” author: “Patricia Mcclung”

Releasing processed waste oil and waste into the environment isn’t the only solution being considered to clean up the huge toxic lakes in northern Alberta, says federal Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault. Mr. Guilbeault said Wednesday that although his administration is developing regulations on how the waste could be drained into the Athabasca River, other solutions are being considered. “We have never said this is the only solution we are considering,” he said. “We have not ruled out the possibility of finding technical solutions to the waste pond issues.” UNESCO team in Alberta to determine whether Wood Buffalo National Park should be listed as endangered Mr. Guilbeau’s comments came as UNESCO researchers arrived in Alberta to examine threats to Wood Buffalo National Park, Canada’s largest. Researchers are to assess whether federal and provincial efforts to halt the park’s environmental slide are enough to prevent the United Nations agency from listing the park as a World Heritage Site in Danger – a move the agency has already called “probable”. One of those threats is tailings ponds, adjacent to the Athabasca River that flows into the park and the vast freshwater delta it protects. First Nations and environmental groups are concerned that the Alberta and federal governments have already decided that treating and releasing water into this river is the best way to go. Not so, said Mr. Guilbeau. “Some people tell us that the only solution is to disinfect the water and dump it in the river. We certainly don’t take it for cash,” he said. “That’s one of the options, but not the only option.” The government develops regulations in case the release of treated water is determined to be the best response. Regulations take time to develop and Mr Guilbeault said something should be in place by 2025 when the current lakes are depleted. Any releases would have to be of drinking water quality, he said. They must also be approved in Ottawa. “This cannot happen unless the federal government approves it.” He said other solutions are being considered, such as disinfecting the water and recycling it back into operation. Other proposed solutions include injecting the water underground. “Something has to be done,” said Mr. Guilbeau. “This has been unclear for quite some time.” Mr. Guilbeault said there is growing evidence that the waste is beginning to contaminate nearby groundwater and surface water. Whatever solution is found will have to work on a massive scale. The lakes currently hold about 1.4 trillion liters of contaminated water and continue to grow, hampering efforts to recover the mines. Mr. Guilbeault said Environment Canada is consulting with industry and First Nations. “The solution will not be decided by industry,” he said. In a series of tweets, Alberta Environment Minister Whitney Issik said the province has the situation in its own hands. “Albertans and Canadians should know that the Lower Athabasca Oil Sands region is one of the most controlled and studied areas on the planet,” he wrote. Documents leaked earlier this year to the Canadian Press detailing the results of a survey of provincial environmental monitoring scientists suggest they still don’t think Alberta has a good understanding of the overall impacts of the oil sands. We have a weekly Western Canada newsletter written by our BC and Alberta bureau chiefs, providing a comprehensive package of the news you need to know about the region and its position on the issues facing Canada. Sign up today.

title: “Releasing Waste Oil And Waste Into The Athabasca River Is Just One Of Many Options Guilbeault Says Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-10-30” author: “Cynthia Sanders”

Releasing processed waste oil and waste into the environment isn’t the only solution being considered to clean up the huge toxic lakes in northern Alberta, says federal Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault. Mr. Guilbeault said Wednesday that although his administration is developing regulations on how the waste could be drained into the Athabasca River, other solutions are being considered. “We have never said this is the only solution we are considering,” he said. “We have not ruled out the possibility of finding technical solutions to the waste pond issues.” UNESCO team in Alberta to determine whether Wood Buffalo National Park should be listed as endangered Mr. Guilbeau’s comments came as UNESCO researchers arrived in Alberta to examine threats to Wood Buffalo National Park, Canada’s largest. Researchers are to assess whether federal and provincial efforts to halt the park’s environmental slide are enough to prevent the United Nations agency from listing the park as a World Heritage Site in Danger – a move the agency has already called “probable”. One of those threats is tailings ponds, adjacent to the Athabasca River that flows into the park and the vast freshwater delta it protects. First Nations and environmental groups are concerned that the Alberta and federal governments have already decided that treating and releasing water into this river is the best way to go. Not so, said Mr. Guilbeau. “Some people tell us that the only solution is to disinfect the water and dump it in the river. We certainly don’t take it for cash,” he said. “That’s one of the options, but not the only option.” The government develops regulations in case the release of treated water is determined to be the best response. Regulations take time to develop and Mr Guilbeault said something should be in place by 2025 when the current lakes are depleted. Any releases would have to be of drinking water quality, he said. They must also be approved in Ottawa. “This cannot happen unless the federal government approves it.” He said other solutions are being considered, such as disinfecting the water and recycling it back into operation. Other proposed solutions include injecting the water underground. “Something has to be done,” said Mr. Guilbeau. “This has been unclear for quite some time.” Mr. Guilbeault said there is growing evidence that the waste is beginning to contaminate nearby groundwater and surface water. Whatever solution is found will have to work on a massive scale. The lakes currently hold about 1.4 trillion liters of contaminated water and continue to grow, hampering efforts to recover the mines. Mr. Guilbeault said Environment Canada is consulting with industry and First Nations. “The solution will not be decided by industry,” he said. In a series of tweets, Alberta Environment Minister Whitney Issik said the province has the situation in its own hands. “Albertans and Canadians should know that the Lower Athabasca Oil Sands region is one of the most controlled and studied areas on the planet,” he wrote. Documents leaked earlier this year to the Canadian Press detailing the results of a survey of provincial environmental monitoring scientists suggest they still don’t think Alberta has a good understanding of the overall impacts of the oil sands. We have a weekly Western Canada newsletter written by our BC and Alberta bureau chiefs, providing a comprehensive package of the news you need to know about the region and its position on the issues facing Canada. Sign up today.

title: “Releasing Waste Oil And Waste Into The Athabasca River Is Just One Of Many Options Guilbeault Says Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-24” author: “Ardith Anderson”

Releasing processed waste oil and waste into the environment isn’t the only solution being considered to clean up the huge toxic lakes in northern Alberta, says federal Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault. Mr. Guilbeault said Wednesday that although his administration is developing regulations on how the waste could be drained into the Athabasca River, other solutions are being considered. “We have never said this is the only solution we are considering,” he said. “We have not ruled out the possibility of finding technical solutions to the waste pond issues.” UNESCO team in Alberta to determine whether Wood Buffalo National Park should be listed as endangered Mr. Guilbeau’s comments came as UNESCO researchers arrived in Alberta to examine threats to Wood Buffalo National Park, Canada’s largest. Researchers are to assess whether federal and provincial efforts to halt the park’s environmental slide are enough to prevent the United Nations agency from listing the park as a World Heritage Site in Danger – a move the agency has already called “probable”. One of those threats is tailings ponds, adjacent to the Athabasca River that flows into the park and the vast freshwater delta it protects. First Nations and environmental groups are concerned that the Alberta and federal governments have already decided that treating and releasing water into this river is the best way to go. Not so, said Mr. Guilbeau. “Some people tell us that the only solution is to disinfect the water and dump it in the river. We certainly don’t take it for cash,” he said. “That’s one of the options, but not the only option.” The government develops regulations in case the release of treated water is determined to be the best response. Regulations take time to develop and Mr Guilbeault said something should be in place by 2025 when the current lakes are depleted. Any releases would have to be of drinking water quality, he said. They must also be approved in Ottawa. “This cannot happen unless the federal government approves it.” He said other solutions are being considered, such as disinfecting the water and recycling it back into operation. Other proposed solutions include injecting the water underground. “Something has to be done,” said Mr. Guilbeau. “This has been unclear for quite some time.” Mr. Guilbeault said there is growing evidence that the waste is beginning to contaminate nearby groundwater and surface water. Whatever solution is found will have to work on a massive scale. The lakes currently hold about 1.4 trillion liters of contaminated water and continue to grow, hampering efforts to recover the mines. Mr. Guilbeault said Environment Canada is consulting with industry and First Nations. “The solution will not be decided by industry,” he said. In a series of tweets, Alberta Environment Minister Whitney Issik said the province has the situation in its own hands. “Albertans and Canadians should know that the Lower Athabasca Oil Sands region is one of the most controlled and studied areas on the planet,” he wrote. Documents leaked earlier this year to the Canadian Press detailing the results of a survey of provincial environmental monitoring scientists suggest they still don’t think Alberta has a good understanding of the overall impacts of the oil sands. We have a weekly Western Canada newsletter written by our BC and Alberta bureau chiefs, providing a comprehensive package of the news you need to know about the region and its position on the issues facing Canada. Sign up today.

title: “Releasing Waste Oil And Waste Into The Athabasca River Is Just One Of Many Options Guilbeault Says Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-10-24” author: “Charlotte Barnett”

Releasing processed waste oil and waste into the environment isn’t the only solution being considered to clean up the huge toxic lakes in northern Alberta, says federal Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault. Mr. Guilbeault said Wednesday that although his administration is developing regulations on how the waste could be drained into the Athabasca River, other solutions are being considered. “We have never said this is the only solution we are considering,” he said. “We have not ruled out the possibility of finding technical solutions to the waste pond issues.” UNESCO team in Alberta to determine whether Wood Buffalo National Park should be listed as endangered Mr. Guilbeau’s comments came as UNESCO researchers arrived in Alberta to examine threats to Wood Buffalo National Park, Canada’s largest. Researchers are to assess whether federal and provincial efforts to halt the park’s environmental slide are enough to prevent the United Nations agency from listing the park as a World Heritage Site in Danger – a move the agency has already called “probable”. One of those threats is tailings ponds, adjacent to the Athabasca River that flows into the park and the vast freshwater delta it protects. First Nations and environmental groups are concerned that the Alberta and federal governments have already decided that treating and releasing water into this river is the best way to go. Not so, said Mr. Guilbeau. “Some people tell us that the only solution is to disinfect the water and dump it in the river. We certainly don’t take it for cash,” he said. “That’s one of the options, but not the only option.” The government develops regulations in case the release of treated water is determined to be the best response. Regulations take time to develop and Mr Guilbeault said something should be in place by 2025 when the current lakes are depleted. Any releases would have to be of drinking water quality, he said. They must also be approved in Ottawa. “This cannot happen unless the federal government approves it.” He said other solutions are being considered, such as disinfecting the water and recycling it back into operation. Other proposed solutions include injecting the water underground. “Something has to be done,” said Mr. Guilbeau. “This has been unclear for quite some time.” Mr. Guilbeault said there is growing evidence that the waste is beginning to contaminate nearby groundwater and surface water. Whatever solution is found will have to work on a massive scale. The lakes currently hold about 1.4 trillion liters of contaminated water and continue to grow, hampering efforts to recover the mines. Mr. Guilbeault said Environment Canada is consulting with industry and First Nations. “The solution will not be decided by industry,” he said. In a series of tweets, Alberta Environment Minister Whitney Issik said the province has the situation in its own hands. “Albertans and Canadians should know that the Lower Athabasca Oil Sands region is one of the most controlled and studied areas on the planet,” he wrote. Documents leaked earlier this year to the Canadian Press detailing the results of a survey of provincial environmental monitoring scientists suggest they still don’t think Alberta has a good understanding of the overall impacts of the oil sands. We have a weekly Western Canada newsletter written by our BC and Alberta bureau chiefs, providing a comprehensive package of the news you need to know about the region and its position on the issues facing Canada. Sign up today.