Edmonton - A study in a peer-reviewed journal, The Wilson Journal of Ornithology, to be published in early September shows annual bird mortality in the bitumen tailings ponds of northeastern Alberta - an internationally significant migratory bird corridor - greatly exceeds industry estimates. The authors investigated three types of data: government-industry reported mortalities; rates of bird deaths at tailings ponds; and rates of landing, oiling and mortality to quantify annual bird mortality due to exposure to tailings ponds. For the period 2000 to 2007, reporting by industry indicated a mean annual mortality from tailings pond exposure of 65 birds. The study, entitled "Annual Bird Mortality in the Bitumen Tailings Ponds in Northeastern Alberta," however, indicated an annual mortality in the ... continue reading.

Calgary - The Oil Sands Environmental Coalition -- composed of the Pembina Institute, the Toxics Watch Society of Alberta and the Fort McMurray Environmental Association, and represented by Ecojustice -- recently filed a submission calling on the Joint Review Panel to reject Total E&P Canada's Joslyn North Mine Project application due to significant environmental impacts, a deficient environmental assessment and insufficient progress on government regulations to address oil sands environmental impacts. The Total Joslyn North Mine Project would result in 1.5 million tonnes of greenhouse gas pollution each year (equivalent to putting over 270,000 cars on the road), and it would destroy thousands of hectares of land. "The environmental assessment submitted by Total is not reliable and therefore should be ... continue reading.

Edmonton - Environmental groups and landowners have joined forces to block Capital Power's bid to remove a legal requirement that it offset 50 per cent of the greenhouse gas emissions that are released from the Genesee 3 coal power plant. In 2001 the company (then EPCOR) had voluntarily committed to offset its emissions in response to public concern about the climate impact of burning coal to make power. The commitment was written right into the company's approval by the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC, then named the Alberta Energy and Utilities Board) and was a factor in the Board's 2002 decision to approve the plant. If the utilities commission agrees to change the approval, Capital Power will only have to achieve ... continue reading.

Calgary - Alberta provincial court's guilty verdict in the Syncrude ducks case confirms the need to eliminate toxic tailings ponds and the risks they pose, Ecojustice said today. Some 1,600 ducks died after landing in a Syncrude tailings pond in April 2008. The pond's bird deterrent systems were not in place at the time. Judge K.E. Tjosvold of the Provincial Court of Alberta found Syncrude guilty today of allowing hazardous substances to contact animals under the Alberta Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act and guilty of depositing hazardous substances in an area frequented by migratory birds under the federal Migratory Birds Convention Act. "This decision confirms that tar sands operators must take responsibility for their actions. Not only did Syncrude create ... continue reading.

Edmonton - On the eve of a verdict in the Syncrude trial into the 2008 deaths of 1,606 ducks on one of its tailings ponds, Greenpeace released three graphs showing that the Alberta government has consistently cut the province's environmental enforcement and monitoring budget, while consistently boosting public relations spending. The numbers could in part explain why the government was unaware of the incident and unaware of Syncrude's lack of deterrents to protect birds. Alberta's spending on environmental compliance, enforcement, and monitoring has decreased by $7 million or 25 per cent since 2003 despite rapid tar sands expansion. Alberta now spends a combined total of just $20 million on compliance, enforcement, and monitoring. Meanwhile, the Premier's Office alone spends more ... continue reading.

Calgary - Greenpeace activists are "celebrating" outside Statoil headquarters in Calgary this morning in honour of Norwegian National Day, and demanding that Statoil get out of the tar sands. As Norway marks its independence from Denmark, Greenpeace asks the country to claim independence from dirty tar sands oil. Statoil, a state-owned Norwegian energy company, owns 1100 square kilometres of tar sands leases and is a major contributor to the destruction of Indigenous territories, forests and wetlands in northern Alberta. Activists at the Calgary Statoil building, are playing the Norwegian national anthem, handing out leaflets and Norwegian flags smeared with mock oil and holding up a banner reading: "Norway: Independence from Tar Sands!" "There are many reasons to celebrate Norway today, ... continue reading.

As shareholders gather in London, UK, this week for BP's annual general meeting, American and British investors are coordinating a unique effort putting pressure on four major oil multinationals over their controversial investments in the Canadian oil sands. Investors from both sides of the Atlantic have filed resolutions for the BP, Shell, ConocoPhillips and ExxonMobil annual general meetings this spring which ask the companies to report on the financial, environmental and social risks associated with their oil sands investments. FairPensions UK, the California State Teachers Retirement Fund (CalSTRS), and Boston-based Green Century Capital Management (Green Century) are coordinating the shareholders' efforts. Canada's oil sands are the second largest oil resource in the world, comprising some 173 billion barrels in reserves. ... continue reading.

The Pembina Institute has just released Drilling Deeper: The In Situ Oil Sands Report Card. It is the first comparative environmental assessment of in-situ oil sands projects. Scores among the nine Canadian operating projects surveyed ranged from 25 to 60 per cent, with five of nine projects scoring less than 50 per cent. The average score of 44 per cent demonstrates substantial room for improvement across the sector. In situ extraction techniques are used where oil sands deposits lie too deep underground to surface mine. Given that about 80,000 square kilometres of Alberta, an area the size of Scotland, has been leased for in-situ development, the potential environmental impact of these projects could be significant. The leading operation among the ... continue reading.

Sponsored by The Solar Energy Society of Canada and Grant MacEwan University. ==================================== What: A Super-Insulated Retrofit -- The Option for Existing Houses... When:  Wednesday, 2010 March 10 Time:  7:00pm to 8:30pm Who:   Harold Orr, Canada's legendary figure in energy efficient construction. This talk will be of interest to homeowners, builders, engineers and architects. Why:   He will be in Edmonton on March 10 to speak about his energy retrofit of a 1950s 4-plex in Regina. Where: Grant MacEwan University CN Theatre Room 5-142, 105 Street Building, 105 St, 105 Avenue, Edmonton Cost:  Free presentation and discussion. Free refreshments at 6:30pm Registration: Not necessary Details:      See attached flyer Outline: Start with your existing house to save energy, money and greenhouse ... continue reading.

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