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.
EPA Calls For Further US Government Study Of Oil-Sands Pipeline
* JULY 21, 2010
By Edward Welsch
Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES
CALGARY (Dow Jones)--The environmental impact of crude production from Canada's oil sands should be studied more closely before the U.S. approves a new pipeline from its northern neighbor, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said Wednesday.
Anti-oilsands advertisements
Calgary Herald
August 9, 2010 2:06 AM
-Before watching the Rethink Alberta video, 54 per cent of Britons and 49 per cent of Americans said they would "definitely" or "probably" consider visiting Alberta.
-After watching the video, only 24 per cent of Britons and 26 per cent of Americans would "definitely" or "probably" consider visiting Alberta.
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 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
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.
Proposed rules for oilsands water-removal inadequate: First Nations
Wants Athabasca protected during low flow
By Hanneke Brooymans,
edmontonjournal.com
July 23, 2010
EDMONTON — First Nations in northeastern Alberta have problems with a proposed management system for the Athabasca River that would allow oilsands operators to withdraw water during critical times of low flows.
The recommended water-withdrawal rules were released earlier this year and have since been reviewed l by the Athabasca Chipewyan and Mikisew Cree First Nations.
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.
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.
