Business

Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

Bureaucrats to oversee increased monitoring of oilsands projects

By: Bob Weber

Posted: 02/4/2012 1:00 AM | Comments: 0 (including replies)

EDMONTON -- A long-awaited plan from the federal and Alberta governments on how to gauge the environmental effects of the oilsands will watch for more contaminants, in more places, more often.

But monitoring will be run -- at least at first -- by bureaucrats instead of an independent agency.

Scientists who studied the old system had proposed an arm's-length commission that would report directly to the environment minister.

Increased monitoring is to begin as early as the spring.

"We will begin to work immediately," federal Environment Minister Peter Kent said Friday after a technical briefing in Edmonton. "It is critical that we get the development of the oilsands right."

There are expected to be 172 monitoring sites in the oilsands region by the end of a three-year phase-in period -- up from the current 110. More chemicals, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and naphthenic acids, are to be measured.

The plan includes monitoring sites in Saskatchewan and the Northwest Territories. The program is expected to cost about $50 million, to be paid by industry.

Kent was joined at the announcement by his Alberta counterpart, Diana McQueen.

McQueen said the two governments are working toward setting up independent oversight.

"We look forward to moving ahead with the independent commission," she said. "I strongly believe that we (should) have a provincial independent commission."

The plan is considered crucial to answering critics who charge the multibillion-dollar industry is being allowed to charge ahead far in advance of government's ability to regulate it.

That point was repeatedly made in half a dozen reports in 2010 and 2011. Those reports were done for independent groups as well as the federal and provincial governments.

Environmental concern over the oilsands has already affected current and possible export markets for oilsands-derived crude. A decision on permitting TransCanada's proposed Keystone XL pipeline was delayed by the U.S. government over those concerns.

-- The Canadian Press

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition February 4, 2012 $sourceSection0

(You must be logged in to post your reaction)

Your reaction?

More Business

Undock

You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.

The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010; View the changes. New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.