Oil Sands Truth: Shut Down the Tar Sands

Land

Land, regardless of whether covered by forests, tundra or grasslands, is threatened by mining operations such as Alberta’s vast open tar pit operations, or through incredible networks of “right of way” cuts for pipelines that extend in the hundreds of thousands of miles, all told, and across the continent in four directions and to three oceans—either through feeding the tarsand operations with fossil fuel energy or through feeding energy markets from tarsand operations after production. In the case of pipeline right of ways, they can blast directly through mountains or be buried in permafrost if needed, to get the energy to move.

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Keystone XL Pipeline would ship oil and jobs south

Pipeline would ship oil and jobs south
Published On Sun Aug 08 2010

Dave Coles President of the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers union

An unlikely coalition of Calgary oil workers, Nebraska farmers, Michigan mothers, Greenpeace shock troops and a powerful U.S. congressman have a chance to achieve what many thought impossible — bring a Canada-U.S. oil pipeline project to a screeching halt.

The pipeline they are trying to stop is a 9,600-kilometre monster designed to ferry black bitumen from the Canadian tarsands due south to planned refineries on the Gulf of Mexico.

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 Tar Sands

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”.

Enbridge Pipeline break hits U.S., Canada refineries

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.

Agencies Differ on Tar Sands Pipeline

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

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.

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

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.

Ophir to Acquire Interest in Madagascar Block

Ophir to Acquire Interest in Madagascar Block
Ophir Energy plc
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Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Ophir has entered into an agreement with Wilton Petroleum to acquire an 80% interest and Operatorship of a Production Sharing Contract (PSC) over an area designated as the Marovoay Block 2102, onshore Madagascar.

The Block 2102 lies in the coastal area of northwest Madagascar covering an area in excess of 12,000km2. The PSC was awarded to Wilton following a competitive licensing round in 2006.