Oil Sands Truth: Shut Down the Tar Sands

Water

Water is needed in huge amounts in tarsands production and in all other construction stages of tarsands infrastructure across the continent. It takes five litres of water to produce one of usable petrol. There is also water used to move gas, build new tar pits or that water which becomes polluted in the outlying areas. Waste tailings ponds are so vast as to be visible from outer space at this early point in production. Water is now being privatized in slow motion, as “access rights” are available in Alberta. As production grows and climate change continues to parch southern Albertan land, more and more water will be needed to help supply fuel for the American market. This water will ultimately be diverted from rivers, lakes, farms and cities throughout Canada; the water levels in the Athabasca River have already dropped several meters. The Deh Cho/Mackenzie River is already threatened, both from development along its valley and it is downstream from tar sands operations. A generation ago, the Athabasca River was clear and drinking was common. Now, those that live with the river consider it poison and off-limits.

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Canadians Fight Tar Sands, Israelis Fight Oil Shale

Canadians Fight Tar Sands, Israelis Fight Oil Shale
April 12th, 2011
Tafline Laylin
Rachel Jacobson shares the story behind protecting the beautiful view from “Big Oil.”

BLM reconsidering acreage for oil shale, tar sands (USA)

BLM reconsidering acreage for oil shale, tar sands

The Salt Lake Tribune
First published Apr 13 2011

The Bureau of Land Management will conduct a “fresh” study to determine how much public acreage to open to potential oil shale and tar sands development, the agency announced Wednesday.

In 2008, under the Bush administration, the agency amended eight area management plans in Utah, Colorado and Wyoming to open about 1.9 million acres for oil shale development and more than 430,000 acres for tar sands.

Protesters demand halt to bank’s tar sands financing (Scotland)

Protesters demand halt to bank’s tar sands financing
Herald Scotland
cHRIS WATT and SIMON BAIN

20 Apr 2011

PROTESTERS yesterday hijacked a meeting of the Royal Bank of Scotland to demand an end to state-backed funding for tar sands oil projects.

Representatives of Canada’s First Nations visited Edinburgh to tell the bank’s annual meeting that oil extraction could threaten their way of life and cause untold environmental damage in the event of a spill.

Estonia sees rock as future of global energy (oil shale)

Estonia sees rock as future of global energy

By Anneli Reigas (AFP) – Mar 22, 2011

NARVA, Estonia — A huge excavator bites into the earth of an open-cast mine, as the operator skillfully mans the controls in a cabin four storeys from ground level.

For the small Baltic state of Estonia, rock is the future of energy.

The European Union nation of 1.3 million generates 97 percent of its electricity thanks to oil shale -- sediment formed 400-450 million years ago, containing hydrocarbons. Its industry forecasts that shale's use can only expand.

US Feds to consider tars sands, shale projects

Feds to consider tars sands, shale projects

The Associated Press April 13, 2011
SALT LAKE CITY

The federal government says it will take a fresh look at commercial oil shale and tar sands plans in the Western United States.

The Bureau of Land Management said Wednesday it would soon begin performing environmental studies for potential projects on federal land in Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming. The agency is seeking public comment.

Canadian firm to probe Utah tar sands

Canadian firm to probe Utah oil sands
Project to build mine would be first of its kind in United States
Written by
CHI-CHI ZHANG
Associated Press
April 17 2011

SALT LAKE CITY -- Beneath the lush, green hills of eastern Utah's Uinta Basin, where elk, bear and bison outnumber people, the soil is saturated with a sticky tar that may soon provide a new domestic source of petroleum for the United States.

It would be a first-of-its kind project in the country that some fear could be a slippery slope toward widespread wilderness destruction.

Is There Such a Thing as 'Ethical Oil'?

Is There Such a Thing as 'Ethical Oil'? Canada Claims it Has Lots and the US Is Buying It

By Jason Mark, Earth Island Journal
AlterNet
Sunday, Apr 17, 2011

To get to the quaint village of Fort McKay in the far north of Alberta, Canada, you first have to pass through some version of hell.

"It's no pipe dream"

It's no pipe dream

Politics has no place in Keystone review

For Calgary Herald April 10, 2011

Politicians on both sides of the border should cool the rhetoric over TransCanada Corp.'s contentious pipeline to Texas and get back to dealing with the facts.

Speaking publicly for the first time about the $7-billion Keystone XL pipeline from Alberta to the Texas Gulf Coast, President Barack Obama contradicted his earlier message about the need for increased imports from friendly countries such as Canada.

Draft Land Use Plan Infringes Treaty 8

First Nations in Oil Sands Region say that the Lower Athabasca Regional Plan does not protect enough land and resources to sustain their traditional livelihood and creates legal risk for Alberta

April 8, 2011, Fort McMurray

Montana issues permit for Imperial Oil test module

Montana issues permit for Imperial Oil test module
Associated Press, 04.11.11, 02:53 PM EDT

LEWISTON, Idaho -- The Montana Department of Transportation has issued a permit that would allow Imperial Oil to haul a huge load of refinery equipment from Idaho into Montana on its way to an oil sands project in Alberta, Canada.

Montana issued the permit to Imperial Oil on Friday, clearing the way for the 500,000-pound test load to leave the Port of Lewiston as early as Monday night.