Ducks die in oily Sask. pond
Province investigates deaths of 53 birds at waste retention site
Darren Bernhardt, The StarPhoenix
Published: Thursday, May 15, 2008
The provincial government is scrambling to deal with the deaths of 53 ducks at an oil-extraction site west of Saskatoon.
Energy and Resources Minister Bill Boyd announced Wednesday his government is investigating after the ducks were found dead in a waste retention site near Luseland. Due to an unusually wet spring, the site -- normally shallow or completely dry -- retained sufficient water to attract the ducks earlier this week. They died due to exposure to the oily residue.
Calgary-based Newalta Corp. operates the site as part of its sand-cleaning and waste-processing facility associated with heavy oil production in the area. Boyd said there has been full co-operation from the company, which has been quick to respond to the incident.
"We value our wildlife as much as we value our oil and gas resources," Boyd said. "Newalta acted promptly to inform both my ministry and the Ministry of Environment. The process is being followed."
Just two weeks ago, about 500 ducks were found dead or dying in a toxic tailings pond belonging to oilsands giant Syncrude Canada Ltd., located about 40 kilometres north of Fort McMurray, Alta. Luseland is about 200 km west of Saskatoon.
"It's unfortunate that it occurs at all and particularly today, which is International Migratory Bird Day," said Darrell Crabbe, executive director of the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation. "I hope and expect there will be a concise commitment by the government to develop a prevention protocol for the future."
Crabbe also called on the company to provide "meaningful mitigation" to compensate for damage.
"It's common practice everywhere else. As responsible corporate citizens they could accomplish that by enhancing other habitat possibilities in the province."
Officials from Saskatchewan's Energy and Resources Ministry and the Ministry of Environment have travelled to the Newalta site to offer assistance and advice to ensure appropriate steps are being taken to prevent similar incidents. Environment officials have suggested improvements to the site to protect other waterfowl in the short term.
"Newalta is taking steps to ensure such an event does not happen again," Boyd said. "The company has notified all its facilities that there is a potential hazard to waterfowl from waste retention sites this year due to abnormal moisture levels. They are taking appropriate measures at these sites."
Some of the waste retention sites in the area are designed to hold waste sand recovered during the processing, recycling and recovery of crude oil from tank bottoms. Such sites normally contain only dry sand and pose no threat to waterfowl. This site had operated for seven years without significant incident.
Measures designed to keep animals out are in place at the facility, but in an unusually wet year it appears such sites may also pose a hazard to waterfowl, says a government news release.
As Saskatchewan's resource boom continues, Crabbe expects more incidents involving wildlife will crop up.
"One of our greatest concerns right now is the acidization of lakes from the tarsands development in the northwest of the province. And now there are thousands of roads and trails in that area, which bring their own negative aspects," he said. "Hopefully, Saskatchewan is a lot smarter than Alberta when it comes to this development. When the oil and gas runs out we don't want to be left with a toxic wasteland."
© The StarPhoenix (Saskatoon) 2008
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