Tainted Alberta Oilsands and Environmental impact

The current Alberta Oilsands environmental problem

A recent study stated that Alberta Oilsands production is releasing four billion litres of tainted water into Alberta and surrounding regions including Saskatchewan, Northwest Territories, and the Athabasca River. This report states that it’s a matter of fact that the Alberta Oilsands poses a significant environtmental problem to the areas affected and to the global ecosystem. Alberta Oilsands or Tarsands produces leaks called tarsand tailings which are held in tarsand ponds. The environmental problem is that some scientists and environmentalist believe that there is no way to control the leakage and the negative effects of this Tarsand leakage will destroy the delicate ecosystem including fish, animal and plant life. The Alberta Oilsands poses an increasing environmental problem which will worsen by five fold over the next ten years as more projects are started. It is for this reason that the Alberta Government and Alberta Oilsands companies have invested heavily into studying the environmental impact of the oilsand and ensuring that the public is well educated on its findings. Part of the role of the Alberta Government and Alberta Oil sands companies is to dispel myths and lies about the environmental impact.

Tailing ponds and Alberta tarsands

A tailing pond is created as a result of how Alberta tarsands are produced. A process that uses hotwater to separate the Alberta oil from the sand leaves behind the tailing pond. The tailing pond holds contaminated material from the original product and can continue to be contaminated for decades to come. Alberta Tarsands tailings ponds have been continuously examined to assess its environmental impact on humans, wildlife, and vegetation. It is believed that Alberta tarsands tailing ponds poses significant threat to the surrounding area. Studies on birds have found increased mortality rates. Birds that live in the area or migratory birds that come to the area have been tested and negative effects have been noticed in their expected life. Another significant impact is to plant life and studies have been done on germination. These studies have found that lower seedling weights have been a result. While Alberta Oil Sands companies have been increasing their ability to control the leakage of tailing ponds through use of better technology, some scientists still believe that we are a long way away from having no environmental impact on the environment. It is impossible to stop tailing ponds as a result of the Alberta tarsands production to leak.

Differing view of environmental impact of Alberta Oilsands

Differing views of the environmental impact of the Alberta Oilsands is a matter of where you are standing and what effect you are testing for. A scientist for the Alberta’s Environmental Department said the reports are misleading on the tailing ponds. While tailing ponds do hold waste from Alberta Oilsands production, this waste is overstated and the environmental impact is not as significant. The tarsands waste is going into deep aquifiers that are already naturally contaminated by the geology of the Alberta Oilsands. Another false myth that these scientists are trying to dispel is that tarsands leakage is a big environmental problem. This is a myth and there has not been a serious run off of toxic tailing ponds into surrounding regions. The scientists are confident that they can prevent any serious contamination of groundwater and ecosystems. Of course problems will existing with tainted Alberta oilsands but with continuous research and action taken by the Alberta Government and Oil sands companies, any siginificant environmental impact should be avoided.