Alberta will act if panel finds oilsands monitoring 'unacceptable': Renner
Province appoints six scientists to independently assess water-monitoring data
By Karen Kleiss, edmontonjournal.com October 8, 2010
EDMONTON — Alberta's environment minister says the province is prepared to act if scientists reviewing monitoring programs find "unacceptable" environmental impacts in the oilsands region.
Rob Renner said the province will accept and review recommendations from both the provincial and federal panels studying the issue. If necessary, the government will improve monitoring procedures and act on the better information.
"Clearly, if the purpose of monitoring is to establish whether or not there are unacceptable impacts on the environment, then one shouldn't be doing the monitoring unless you're prepared to act on the information," Renner said Thursday. "That's the very essence of why we are here."
The province on Thursday appointed six scientists to independently investigate conflicting interpretations of water-monitoring data from the oilsands region.
Peter Dillon, George Dixon, Charles Driscoll, Stuart Hurlbert, John Giesy and Jerome Nriagu will sit on the panel. All six are affiliated with high-profile universities in Canada and the United States and have expertise in water-related environmental issues.
There are no Alberta-based experts on the panel. The six were selected from a list provided by Alberta Environment experts and University of Alberta biologist David Schindler, who have differing interpretations of data collected from the Athabasca River and the area around the oilsands.
"We have a situation right now that is confusing -- it's confusing to me, it's confusing to Albertans," Renner said.
"We have eminently qualified scientists coming to different conclusions with respect to environmental impact. If that is something that can be rectified, I want to know."
Last week, federal Environment Minister Jim Prentice announced a similar panel. Renner acknowledged two panels are not necessary, but he says that doubling up can't hurt. While there may be some overlap, he said ultimately the two panels will focus on different things.
"The purpose of this provincial panel is ... to help all Albertans understand better what is the impact of industrial development in Alberta and whether or not we have gaps ... that need to be filled to provide us with better, more consistent, kinds of conclusions," he said.
"The federal panel is doing something different. The federal panel is looking at very specific monitoring that is underway in the oilsands region."
"Any time that you can have a number of very brilliant and bright minds looking at similar kinds of situations, I don't see where that does any harm," he said. "At some point in time those two reports I'm sure will be merged and blended into some kind of operational agenda that will take into account recommendations of both."
Schindler said Thursday he supports the composition of the panel.
"They are all good people. Three of them are people whom I suggested," he said, naming Dillon, Giesy and Nriagu.
kkleiss@edmontonjournal.com
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