A total of 25 organizations have signed a letter calling on the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) to launch a public inquiry into the safety of oilsands cyclic steam stimulation (CSS) and steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) in-situ operations.
The letter was written and sent out by Greenpeace Canada on Aug. 9. Three days later the organization had received supporting signatures of 23 other organizations and according to Greenpeace the support for the idea continues to grow.
“I think people are quite concerned over what is happening (with the CNRL leaks). They are concerned that when we talk about future plans for tar sands developments that the majority of those are going to be in-situ projects,” said Mike Hudema, climate and energy campaigner for Greenpeace. “We really don't think we have the regulatory framework, the oversight needed or even the basic knowledge needed to operate these projects safely.”
The concern over the safety of in-situ technology has been an ongoing topic after CNRL reported bitumen emulsion releases at four separate locations at its Primrose sites on May 20, June 8 and June 24. As of August 2 the spills had released over 1.16 million liters (7,300 barrels) of bitumen emulsion, impacted 20.7 hectares of land, including a watery marshland and killed over 120 animals.
A variety of groups have stepped up and supported the idea of a public inquiry from environmental groups to landowners associations to First Nations groups.
“While the AER has suspended and restricted steam injection operations at the CNRL Primrose operations in response to the most recent events, it is unacceptable to have long fissures in the ground that will continue to spill toxic heated bitumen to the surface, and to further risk our water and groundwater resources from these activities. The time has come for a broader inquiry into CSS and SAGD steam injection operations”, said Carolyn Campbell, conservation specialist with the Alberta Wilderness Association, in a press release.
On Aug. 13, a lengthy, detailed letter was sent on behalf of the 25 supporting groups to AER CEO Jim Ellis, calling for a broad investigation into the safety of in-situ technology.
“We really feel that these spills should be the last warning sign that an inquiry is needed and hope that the AER jump and start conducting (an investigation) right away in a public and open fashion so that the public can really know what is going on and can hold the AER accountable,” said Hudema.
As of Aug 16, all four sites at CNRL are still seeping bitumen emulsion to the surface at a combined rate of less than 20 barrels per day, according to CNRL.
Hudema said that although both AER and CNRL officials are currently investigating the incident at Primrose, he feels there are some questions this investigation won't be able to answer.
“Do we actually know which formation will be able to hold the amount of steam that we are allowing these companies to inject into the ground? Do we know how much steam is a safe level? All of these questions are unanswered and ones that I think can only be answered by a very broad public inquiry,” said Hudema.
As of August 15 Greenpeace had yet to receive a response from AER regarding the letter.
