April 2013

LAND • WATER • AIR • GREENHOUSE GASES • MONITORING

There are legitimate concerns about environmental management in the Alberta oilsands

In 2011 we released a report

Outlining some of these concerns

e.g. …

Alberta’s GHGs are increasing fastest in North America

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GHG emissions will continue to rise

Woodland caribou are in decline

East Side Athabasca Herd~ 65% decline in 16 years

We outlined 19 policy solutions

2011

What progress has been made?

2013

Summary of progress

SUBSTANTIAL

MODERATE

LIMITED

2

5

12

• Legislative protection for at least 50% of public forested lands from industrial development

• Full funding of the Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute

SUBSTANTIAL progress:

MODERATE progress:

• Enforceable regulations to protect non-saline groundwater resources

• Air emission limits matching WHO Air Quality Guidelines

MODERATE progress:

• Require best-available technology for emissions reduction

• Expand air monitoring to meet scientific needs

MODERATE progress:

• Fund a regional monitoring network for groundwater levels and groundwater quality indicators

LIMITED progress:

• Require establishment of biodiversity offsets

• Limit oilsands development to a maximum of 5% of any Alberta planning region

LIMITED progress:

• Develop a new, transparent and risk-averse mine security program

• Follow Alberta Caribou Committee recommendations on ranges

LIMITED progress:

• Water management plan with EBF for the lower Athabasca River

• Measure and map groundwater and surface/groundwater interactions

LIMITED progress:

• Require proven technology to eliminate the creation of wet tailings

• Reject end pit lakes as a tailings reclamation strategy

LIMITED progress:

• Commit to a GHG emissions reduction target consistent with a fair Alberta contribution

• Implement an escalating CO2e emission price

LIMITED progress:

• Mandate the use of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology

• Replace the Regional Aquatics Monitoring Program with a scientifically robust monitoring system

Poor environmental performance = barrier to market access

Environmental regulation improvements are urgently needed

Read more at www.pembina.org/pub/2443

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