Alberta's Oil Sands in pictures

[mykalberta]

Originally Posted by Ronald Pagan

Irrefutable logic.

Yah, the "inconvienient truth" hurts.

The only way Alberta/Canada win the oilsands battle is to play the terrorism game in the US. Why they havent already started is beyond me. Canada doesnt get is "ego" stroked by Saudi money the way the American do, we have nothing to lose by attacking them.

[burn_baby_burn]

I really want to drive that giant dump truck.

[Madman]

Wow, they referred to it as the "Oil" sands.

Not big dinosaur swallowing, Star Trek character eating....TAR SANDS....duh duh duh.

[Ronald Pagan]

Originally Posted by Boblobla

Link plz.



Look into how many birds are killed by that nice clean wind energy on an annual basis. Those numbers aren't reported as much but it is a sh*tload more that 400...

http://www.environmentaldefence.ca/r..._FinalDec8.pdf

[burn_this_city]

I love it when the greenpeace folks use TAAAARSANDS. Like its this horrid word that sends shivers down our spines. Heres a hint, use the right terminology and maybe people will listen to your incessant whining.

[burn_this_city]

Originally Posted by Ronald Pagan

http://www.environmentaldefence.ca/r..._FinalDec8.pdf

LOL nice impartial source.

[Ronald Pagan]

Straw man: talk about the issue

Even if it is biased the figures are still striking. Say they overestimated and instead of 11 million litres of tailings leaking a day it's 5 million litres.

[burn_this_city]

Thats a load of bullsh*t. Those ponds are contained with clay and geotextile liners and monitored by the ERCB. I love how people who know nothing about the industry like to take shots at it.

[brownie]

Originally Posted by Ronald Pagan

Straw man: talk about the issue

Even if it is biased the figures are still striking. Say they overestimated and instead of 11 million litres of tailings leaking a day it's 5 million litres.

How many skydomes would that be then?

[Ronald Pagan]

So you're saying that the authors of this report are lying and that there is no factual basis for tailing ponds leaks and that no leaks are happening?

[vanisleflamesfan]

Originally Posted by brownie

How many skydomes would that be then?

I don't know... what's a 'skydome'? Do you mean how many Roger's Centers?

[burn_this_city]

Originally Posted by Ronald Pagan

So you're saying that the authors of this report are lying and that there is no factual basis for tailing ponds leaks and that no leaks are happening?

Explain how they did any quantity surveying?? Stood on the other side of the river and guessed?

[brownie]

Originally Posted by vanisleflamesfan

I don't know... what's a 'skydome'? Do you mean how many Roger's Centers?

Just making light of the report from the tree huggers in Toronto.

[Igottago]

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

Thats a load of bullsh*t. Those ponds are contained with clay and geotextile liners and monitored by the ERCB. I love how people who know nothing about the industry like to take shots at it.

Can you tell me, as an expert of the industry, what the real environmental impacts of the oilsands are? Are there any at all?

[peter12]

Originally Posted by kermitology

FYI the Athabasca river flows North

Whatever to you...

[kevman]

[burn_this_city]

Originally Posted by Igottago

Can you tell me, as an expert of the industry, what the real environmental impacts of the oilsands are? Are there any at all?

Obviously there are environmental costs. The first tailings ponds from the 60's will be completely reclaimed by the end of this year. Its taken this long for the technology to come around. Most of the processes recycle 90% of the water now. At least the project I'm on does. We draw water from a saline aquifer and use very little fresh. Mind you this is a SAGD job and not a mining project. I don't like the mining method, its the most costly from an environmental standpoint. We are making inroads and all the mines and tailings ponds will be reclaimed. There are plenty of other industries that destroy the enviroment but dont get the same press. Mining, pupl and paper, even just logging in general. Drive around your home province and tell me the logging industry hasnt scarred the landscape.

[Igottago]

These threads/arguments always go the same way:

Oil company/industry employee: There is nothing wrong with the oilsands, any criticism comes from stinky left wing tree hugging hippies with their own granola eating agenda...the oilsands are not dirty.

Environmentalist: They killed a duck! Shut down the oilsands right now! forget jobs! forget the economy!

I'm actually quite interested in the truth, which obviously lies somewhere in between. I find it hard to believe that there is no enviromental impact and we should all bury our heads in the sand (pun intended) and act like the oilsands are perfectly fine environmentally. But I also fully realize the economic neccessity of processing the oilsands. Is there no way to continue on with oilsands projects while decreasing the enviromental impact?

[burn_this_city]

Get out a broom if you want to do some painting.

[photon]

Originally Posted by Igottago

I'm actually quite interested in the truth, which obviously lies somewhere in between. I find it hard to believe that there is no enviromental impact and we should all bury our heads in the sand (pun intended) and act like the oilsands are perfectly fine environmentally.

Or harp on the oilsands but completely ignore coal.

Originally Posted by Igottago

But I also fully realize the economic neccessity of processing the oilsands. Is there no way to continue on with oilsands projects while decreasing the enviromental impact?

I agree, and I think most people have been waiting for the government to put some kind of standards and plan in place for forever. Just tell the companies what goals they have to meet and they'll meet them.