The recent move by Prime Minister Mark Carney to accelerate a new oil export pipeline to the West Coast is heightening the pressure on Ottawa to make a decision on a long-standing environmental concern surrounding the oilsands in Northern Alberta — specifically, the issue of tailings ponds.
The oil production in the area is poised to increase, with the Alberta government aiming to double crude production. However, the industry has been prohibited from discharging any water since the inception of the first oilsands mine approximately six decades ago. Consequently, the region is dotted with large tailings ponds holding decades of industrial mining wastewater, which poses a threat to wildlife due to its toxicity. Local residents are worried about the potential health impacts and environmental damage caused by these ponds.
To deter birds and wildlife from accessing the contaminated water, air cannons operate continuously along the ponds’ perimeters, complemented by scarecrows decked in work attire. The scale of the issue is substantial, akin to 600,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools or covering an area equivalent to the Island of Montreal submerged under three meters of water.
The volume of tailings fluid has surged by 50% over a decade from 2014 to 2024, as reported by the Alberta Energy Regulator. With the ponds reaching capacity, the industry is advocating for regulatory changes to enable the treatment and eventual release of the fluid. Concurrently, Indigenous leaders are urging a slowdown in oilsands production until a sustainable resolution is achieved regarding the tailings ponds.
Grant Hunter, Alberta’s Environment Minister, emphasized the need for scientific validation of solutions rather than maintaining the status quo. He stressed the importance of providing the industry with the tools to manage the treat-and-release process effectively, especially if production is set to double.
The forthcoming proposal from the Alberta government will outline the required water quality standards for potential release. Companies assert their readiness to treat the tailings water but await clarity on the quality benchmarks to be met. They argue that proper remediation of the land is unattainable until the tailings ponds are effectively addressed.
If the treat-and-release approach is permitted, the treated water could be discharged into the Athabasca River, which flows through Indigenous communities before reaching the Arctic Ocean. While some Indigenous groups are concerned about the potential impacts, others are exploring alternative methods for tailings treatment.
The pressure is mounting on Ottawa to take action, with industry players investing in technology and research to address the wastewater issue. Nonetheless, the federal government remains reticent about its next steps, leaving the industry and concerned parties in a state of anticipation regarding the future regulatory framework for tailings management.