Groups challenge plans for Utah tar sands mine

By Steven Oberbeck

The Salt Lake Tribune
Updated Jul 27, 2010 11:12PM

A small Canadian company, in need of millions for its ambitious plans, also is facing stiff opposition from two Utah environmental groups that are trying to thwart its efforts to build one of the first commercial tar sand mines in the country.

Earth Energy Resources, based in Calgary, Alberta, received approval a year ago from the staff of the Utah Division of Oil, Gas and Mining to begin working a 62-acre deposit on the Uintah County-Grand County line.

Alberta Hides Dirty Truth as US Demands Tar Sands Facts

Potential buyers of tar sands oil want to know its true carbon footprint, but industry won't come clean.

By Andrew Nikiforuk,
July 29, 2010
TheTyee.ca

Tar sands are 82 per cent more polluting than average crude, estimates US government, but Canada doesn't keep track.

Pipeline leak deals blow to Canada’s oil sands industry
By Bernard Simon in Toronto
Financial Times
Published: July 29 2010

Canada’s oil sands industry was trying to defuse a fresh public relations headache on Thursday after a ruptured pipeline spilled about 4m litres of Alberta crude into waterways in southern Michigan.

Lisa Jackson, head of the US Environmental Protection Agency, said that “this is a serious spill that has the potential to damage a vital waterway and threatens public health”.

New Suncor 'coming together'

$480M profit trounces forecasts one year after merger

By Shaun Polczer, Calgary Herald; Postmedia News
July 30, 2010

The new Suncor is starting to jell a year after its blockbuster merger with Petro-Canada, its chief executive said Thursday after the company marked a return to second-quarter profitability.

"I really feel like the team is coming together," CEO Rick George told analysts.

Enbridge Pipeline break hits U.S., Canada refineries
Mon Jul 26, 2010

HOUSTON, July 26 (Reuters) - An oil pipeline break in Michigan on Monday shut part of a system carrying Canadian crude oil to the U.S. Midwest and southern Canada, Enbridge Energy Partners (EEP.N) said.

No one was hurt, but about 19,500 barrels of oil was released into a creek that then carried the oil into the Kalamazoo River, an Enbridge news release said. Crews with skimming equipment were responding.

Enbridge hoped to have the line repaired and restarted by Wednesday, a spokesman said.

An ill wind in oil country

A heavy smell of tar hangs over this hamlet, and when people and animals got sick, some residents began to make a stink of their own
Josh Wingrove

From Saturday's Globe and Mail
Jul. 24, 2010

Richard Langer never wanted attention. If the 72-year-old had his way, he would have stayed quietly on his ranch forever. It's where he was born, where he has raised a family and made his living.

Proposed rules for oilsands water-removal inadequate: First Nations
Wants Athabasca protected during low flow

By Hanneke Brooymans,
edmontonjournal.com
July 23, 2010

EDMONTON — First Nations in northeastern Alberta have problems with a proposed management system for the Athabasca River that would allow oilsands operators to withdraw water during critical times of low flows.

The recommended water-withdrawal rules were released earlier this year and have since been reviewed l by the Athabasca Chipewyan and Mikisew Cree First Nations.

Agencies Differ on Oil Sands Pipeline
July 21, 2010, 10:03 am

By ELISABETH ROSENTHAL
NYTimes

As we’ve reported, the State Department is considering whether to approve a huge new pipeline called Keystone XL that will bring crude from Canada’s oil sands all the way to the Gulf of Mexico.

A new pipeline would vastly expand the amount of oil extracted from Canadian oil sands that is used in the United States – which could be good in terms of energy security.

Crews battle out-of-control wildfire near Fort McMurray
Jennifer Earl-King and Grant Farhall
Jul 25, 2010

More than 40 firefighters, five helicopters and air tankers continue to battle an out-of-control blaze in northern Alberta.

It's been burning since Saturday about 80 kilometres northeast of Fort McMurray.

There has been some concern about the safety of workers at Firebag, a Suncor Energy site, which is only 13 kilometres away from the fire.

Wildfire information officer Rob Harris tells 660News there's no need to evacuate the area.

What Those Who Killed the Tar Sands Report Don't Want You to Know

Why did a parliamentary committee suddenly destroy drafts of a final report on tar sands pollution? Here's what they knew.

By Andrew Nikiforuk, 15 Jul 2010,
TheTyee.ca
Shredder

Shredded: Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development abruptly cancelled tar sands report.