Comments on: Oilsands PR disaster continues: 1,600 dead ducks

By: Alberta rebranding suffers an image problem | alainsaffel.com

Alberta rebranding suffers an image problem | alainsaffel.com — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 00:07:21 +0000

[...] has a huge carbon footprint (it uses massive amounts of natural gas and other fuels), its huge toxic tailings ponds are leaking and killing ducks and it uses very large amounts of fresh water (which ends up in the toxic tailings ponds). From [...]

By: Alain

Alain — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 19:23:56 +0000

Good points & thanks for the comment. Interesting link on the rebranding of Alberta.

What needs to happen is the settling pond issue needs to be resolved as quick as possible. I’m sure these ponds flow and leach into the groundwater.

Also, with their underground chemical and steam processes, how does that affect groundwater?

I think that the oilsands can be mined in a reasonably environmentally friendly manner. Just figure it out.

By: Justin Jackson

Justin Jackson — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 19:11:25 +0000

I agree completely. I’d also want to hear (after the initial incident) how they are going to clean up these “ponds.” Ducks are always going to be tempted to land in an open body of water; especially one that melts faster than a real pond.

Here’s the other thing: stories like this reverberate internationally. This isn’t just an Albertan issue (or a Canadian issue) – the world has taken notice of the oil sands, and we’ve got to clean up our act.

Related: Alberta re-branding on Brand New.