The Alberta government has released a new plan for managing oilsands tailings ponds that it says will encourage companies to generate less of the toxic waste water and clean it up sooner.
Environment Minister Kyle Fawcett says operators will have clear guidelines on how large tailings ponds will be allowed to grow. The rules will be backed up by possible financial penalties, he said.
The combination of oversight and enforcement will force companies to keep pushing for a technological breakthrough on tailings cleanup that has so far remained elusive, Fawcett suggested.
“Technology unlocked the oilsands,” he said. “It will be key to finding the long-term, effective solutions to tailings ponds management.”
BOB WEBER – CANADIAN PRESS – Mar 13, 2015.
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