FORT MCMURRAY, AB – The Province is investigating after a number of ducks landed on a tailings pond north of Fort McMurray. Monday evening, Syncrude reported the birds landed on their Mildred Lake Settling Basin. Many of the ducks are heavily covered in oil.
Government of Alberta staff are on-site to make sure deterrents are in place to prevent more birds from landing in the area. The exact number of birds is not known but recovery operations are now underway.
Alberta Minister of Environment Rob Renner issued the following statement in regards to the incident.
“”I cannot express how disappointed and frustrated I am that this incident occurred. Albertans deserve answers to why this happened again, and we will do everything we can to get those answers quickly.”
Syncrude staff are also investigating the incident. In their operating approval, the Province requires Syncrude to have a comprehensive bird deterrent system to operate their tailings ponds.
Last week, Syncrude was fined $3.2-million for the deaths of 1,600 ducks at an oilsands waste pond north of Fort McMurray in April of 2008. The money will go to a number of places, including avian research and purchasing a new waterfowl habitat.
The case made international headlines as photos of oil-drenched ducks fuelled opposition to oilsands development and calls for bans on synthetic crude.
Hundreds of thousands of waterfowl travel through the Fort McMurray region during their annual migration.
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