Syncrude ordered to cut emissions from smelly pond
Tue Aug 28, 2007 2:13 PM EDT143
http://ca.today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=domesticNews&stor...
CALGARY, Alberta (Reuters) - Syncrude Canada Ltd has been ordered to clean up a settling pond at its northern Alberta oil sands project after it began emitting ammonia and small amounts of hydrogen sulfide gas, Alberta environmental regulators said on Tuesday.
The Alberta government said it had issued an Environmental Protection Order after public complaints and monitoring alarms indicated that the gases were leaking from the pond at Syncrude's Mildred Lake mine north of Fort McMurray, Alberta.
Josh Stewart, a spokesman for Alberta Environment, said Syncrude hadn't been asked to suspend production from the mine site but the company was given a September 4 deadline by which to cut the emissions.
Though hydrogen sulfide can be deadly in high concentrations, the gases from the pond have not sparked health concerns.
"There haven't been any health complaints, just odor complaints," Stewart.
Last year, Syncrude had to shut and repair part of a new multibillion-dollar upgrading refinery after area residents complained of a urine-like odor wafting from the plant.
Syncrude officials could not be immediately reached for comment.
Syncrude, a joint venture, is the world's largest producer of synthetic crude oil.
Its partners include Canadian Oil Sands Investments Inc, Imperial Oil Ltd, Petro-Canada, ConocoPhillips, Nexen Inc, Nippon Oil Corp unit Mocal Energy Ltd and Murphy Oil Corp.
