Tailings
Alberta Energy Regulator OKs Fort Hills oilsands mine tailings plan but orders demonstration
It says it must present a research plan for its water-capping technology by September 2023. Continue reading
Syncrude oilsands tailings plan approved by regulator despite its concerns
The Alberta Energy Regulator has approved a tailings pond management plan for oilsands miner Syncrude Canada despite its reliance on a remediation method that isn’t endorsed by the agency. Continue reading
Alberta oilsands tailings showdown is looming: report
Alberta’s oilsands could be heading for another showdown over tailings ponds after an independent assessment found that the cleanup plans of six major operators don’t meet new rules. Continue reading
B.C. mining code aims to eliminate disasters like Mount Polley
Mines Minister Bill Bennett says British Columbia is making changes to its mining code that sets standards to ensure that a disaster like the Mount Polley tailings pond collapse never happens again. Continue reading
Environmental group calls on feds to pay more for Gunnar mine cleanup
Half-a-century after the Gunnar uranium mine closed down, the toxic legacy still remains. The problem is, the cost to clean it has gone up dramatically. Continue reading
Mount Polley breach: What Thursday’s tailings test won’t tell you
Results from water quality tests of Quesnel Lake won’t analyze the potentially toxic solids released after Mount Polley mine’s tailings pond was breached. Continue reading
2 provinces, 2 environmental disasters, 2 very different responses
Why the huge difference in responses to the Mount Polley tailings breach in B.C. and the Canadian Natural Resources, Ltd. bitumen spills in northern Alberta? Continue reading
Mount Polley tailings breach: Who is Imperial Metals’ Murray Edwards?
He’s one of Canada’s most prominent billionaires – co-owner of the Calgary Flames, creator of oilsands giant CNRL – and main shareholder of Imperial Metals, whose mine spewed millions of cubic metres of tailings into the environment this week. Continue reading
What’s in Imperial Metals’ Mount Polley tailings? Should you be worried?
The bad news: A five-million-cubic-metre spill of mine tailings is a lot. The good news: It’s rare. The impact: Almost totally unknown, at this point. Continue reading
Mount Polley tailings spill: What 5 million cubic metres looks like
How big, really, is five million cubic metres of toxic tailings waste? We built a virtual structure in Vancouver’s downtown to find out. Continue reading