[Vision2020] Alberta's Oil Sands Disaster" "230 ducks euthanized after landing on Syncrude tailings pond"

[Reggie Holmquist]

How do they euthanize 230 ducks?

-Reggie

On Wed, Oct 27, 2010 at 11:11 AM, Ted Moffett <starbliss at gmail.com> wrote:

> I was listening last night to CBC Radio from Calgary, Alberta, the old
> fashioned way, on 1010 AM, when the following news was announced:
>
>
> http://calgary.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20101026/CGY_tailings_pond_101026/20101027/?hub=CalgaryHome
>
> 230 ducks euthanized after landing on Syncrude tailings pond
>
> Updated: Wed Oct. 27 2010 11:27:57
>
> ctvcalgary.ca
>
> At least 230 ducks had to be euthanized after landing on a Syncrude
> tailings pond, with new reports emerging that ducks also landed in
> tailings ponds owned by Suncor and Shell.
>
> The province says Alberta Environment staff are at Syncrude and Suncor
> and will be heading to Suncor to work with the companies. The Alberta
> Environment Support and Emergency Response Team has been sent to the
> region to co-ordinate these efforts.
>
> Syncrude Canada said that the ducks landed on their Mildred Lake
> Settling Basin Monday evening. It's the company's largest pond,
> holding 220 million cubic metres of tailings liquid.
>
> The 230 ducks had to be euthanized due to contact with bitumen
> floating on the surface, and the remaining birds are being assessed by
> government crews and Syncrude workers.
>
> Syncrude said the unusual bird activity was due to a freezing rain
> storm in the area. But on the Environment Canada website, there is no
> record of precipitation last night in that area.
>
> The waterfowl deterrent system had been in full operation at the time
> and extra air cannons, flare guns and air horns had been used, but
> with no response, Syncrude added.
>
> The government requires companies to have a comprehensive bird
> deterrent system in place to operate their tailings ponds.
>
> "I cannot express how disappointed and frustrated I am that this
> incident occurred," said Rob Renner, Alberta Minister of Environment,
> who said the timing could not be worse.
>
> "Albertans deserve answers to why this happened again, and we will do
> everything we can to get those answers quickly."
>
> Premier Ed Stelmach said the event is "sad and disappointing in light
> of the court and judge's decision last week" but the government is
> investigating.
>
> Less than a week ago, Syncrude was ordered to pay $3 million in fines
> after more than 1,600 dead or dying ducks were found in a tailings
> pond in April 2008. It was the largest environmental penalty in
> Alberta's history.
>
> Alberta Liberal Leader David Swann said he was "at a loss" to explain
> Renner's confusion of how this could happen, adding: "The ponds are
> built directly in migratory bird patterns."
>
> Syncrude president and CEO Scott Sullivan said they are cooperating
> with regulators and working to minimize waterfowl losses.
>
> This recent incident demonstrates that tailings ponds still prove to
> be a threat, said Mike Hudema of Greenpeace.
>
> "It's obvious that the provincial and federal government are asleep at
> the wheel in regulating the tar sands industry and that nothing has
> changed since 1,600 ducks died two years ago," Hudema said in a
> statement.
>
> "Syncrude needs more than a slap on the wrist and this government
> needs to do more than act as a public relations firm for the tar
> sands."
>
> ------------------------------------------
> Vision2020 Post: Ted Moffett
>
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