Pembina Institute

Green groups create huge visual to give Albertans a look at tailings cost of Total approval

Edmonton — The steps of the Provincial legislature were transformed today in an attempt to give Albertans an idea of the amount of tailings, French tar sands giant Total, will create in Alberta if Total’s new mine site is approved. Representative from Greenpeace, the Rainforest Action Network and Sierra Club Prairie set-up 60, 200 litre rain barrels which is what Total will dump into Alberta’s eco-system every 30 seconds with this project. Read More

Environmental groups oppose Total Joslyn North mine

World-renowned climate expert Dr. James Hansen to address panel

EDMONTON, AB — Environmental groups are challenging a new oilsands project application that threatens wildlife habitat, is rife with errors and could leave Canadians facing roughly $3 billion in liability.

The Oil Sands Environmental Coalition, represented by Ecojustice, opposes the approval of Total E&P Canada's Joslyn North Mine and is arguing for a full assessment of the project's cumulative impacts on wildlife, fish and northern forests, as required by law. Read More

World-renowned climate expert Dr. James Hansen to address Total oilsands review panel

EDMONTON, AB— Dr. James Hansen, award-winning climate scientist, will appear at the hearings into Total E&P Canada’s Joslyn North (oilsands) Mine on Tuesday in Sherwood Park, Alta.

Dr. Hansen will speak on the consequences of Joslyn North’s contribution of global warming emissions. The project will significantly increase Alberta and Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions. Read More

Pembina Reacts: NDP report highlights growing evidence of oilsands impacts on Canada’s freshwater

CALGARY, AB — Simon Dyer, oilsands program director for the Pembina Institute, responded to today's release of the NDP minority report on the findings of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development's study of the impact of oilsands development on Canada's freshwater. Read More

Pembina Reacts: Suncor achieves solid surface on Tailings Pond 1

CALGARY, AB — Marlo Raynolds, executive director of the Pembina Institute, responded to today's announcement that Suncor has achieved a solid surface for its "Pond 1" tailings pond.

"We need to see very serious improvement in the environmental management of tailings. Suncor's announcement that the tailings in Pond 1 have been solidified represents progress and does reduce the environmental risk. Read More

U.S. decisions on tar sands imports will impact First Nations communities, leaders say

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. officials heard first-hand this week how their decisions about importing oil from the Canadian tar sands are affecting First Nations communities on both sides of the border.

A delegation of Canadian and American First Nations leaders met with officials at the White House Council on Environmental Quality, the State Department, the Department of Interior and others. They also discussed their experiences and concerns with the staff of key congressional representatives and non-governmental organizations. Read More

Pembina Reacts: Total oil sands panel adjourns hearing

CALGARY, AB - Simon Dyer, oil sands program director for the Pembina Institute, responded to yesterday's decision by the Joint Review Panel reviewing the Total Joslyn North Mine to adjourn the hearing in order to deliberate upon a number of important and complex rulings on matters including questions of constitutional law and filings of information.

The Oil Sands Environmental Coalition (Pembina Institute, Toxics Watch Society of Alberta and Fort McMurray Environmental Association) had filed a motion arguing the hearing be adjourned. Read More

Oil Sands Environmental Coalition files motion requesting panel adjourn Total oil sands hearing

Flawed environmental assessment is illegal, groups say

CALGARY, AB — Today, on the first day of the Total E&P Joslyn North Mine hearing in Fort McMurray, lawyers for the Oil Sands Environmental Coalition (OSEC) filed a motion arguing the hearing, which will determine whether the project goes ahead, be adjourned based on Total's deficient environmental impact assessment.

Canadian law requires a cumulative impacts assessment to determine what the impacts of the project are when combined with other existing and planned development. Total's assessment, however, does not meet these requirements.

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First Nations leaders bring concerns over tar sands impacts to U.S. capital

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A delegation of indigenous leaders from Canada and the U.S. will hold a media briefing in Washington D.C. on Wednesday, September 22. The leaders are in the U.S. capital this week to discuss their concerns over the impacts of tar sands development with high-ranking officials in light of deliberations over the Keystone XL pipeline project Read More

Water Matters and the Pembina Institute React: Noncompliance with tailings directive 074 continues

CALGARY, AB — Joe Obad, associate director of Water Matters, and Terra Simieritsch, policy analyst for the oil sands program for the Pembina Institute, responded to today's announcement that the Energy Resources Conservation Board (ERCB) has approved another tailings (the toxic liquid waste created by oil sands production) management plan, this time for Shell Canada’s Muskeg River Mine project: Read More

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