In the shadow of the oil sands
Alberta’s Industrial Heartland suffers from a “minimum of red tape”
- download PDF -
Alberta’s Industrial Heartland (AIH) is located
northeast of Edmonton, AB. Over 300 square
kilometres in size, it takes in four municipalities:
Strathcona Country, Sturgeon County, Lamont
County, and the City of Fort Saskatchewan. Many
chemical, petrochemical, petroleum, and associated
industries are located in the AIH and there are
currently 12 bitumen upgrader projects proposed or
approved for this region.
The Security and Prosperity Partnership of North
America, which includes a plan for a “fivefold expansion”
of the tar sands, is contributing to a rapid and
uncontrolled expansion in the area. The Alberta
Industrial Heartland’s official website boasts, “Alberta
leads the country in providing a ‘business friendly’
environment with a minimum of red tape and regulatory
hurdles.”
What are the problems?
1. Water use:
Many industrial facilities are being built on the edge
of the North Saskatchewan River, which feeds many
communities across the Prairies. Massive quantities
of water are being drawn from the river by industry.
Over the past few months, several industries have
made applications seeking regulatory approval to
each draw between 7 and 9 million cubic metres of
water annually.
2. Carcinogens:
Much of the data on industrial emissions is based
on an honour system, with industry reporting its own
emissions, rather than independent monitoring by
government officials. The risk of being diagnosed with
cancer while living in the Industrial Heartland is significantly higher than in other places in Canada. Isn’t
it time that our politicians and public health officials
target the industrial sector to eliminate carcinogens?
3. Meaningless guidelines:
At a recent court hearing, where residents argued
that they deserved to be consulted about the construction
of a new upgrader, evidence was presented
that documented sulphur dioxide emissions near
residents’ homes were twice the provincial “guidelines.”
Officials argued that pollution “guidelines” are
just that – guidelines, not laws.
4. Air quality:
Fort Air Partnership runs an air monitoring system for
the region and is currently funded and influenced by
industry. Dr. Blake, an independent researcher who is
part of a Nobel prize-winning team, did air sampling
in the AIH region (2004-2005) and completed a report
on air quality. He found the air quality in the AIH region
comparable to air in polluted cities such as New
York and Shanghai.
5. Environmental impact:
Industries proposing a new facility in the AIH hire
consultants to prepare Environmental Impact Assessments
to determine the impact of a proposed industrial
facility. These are not independent assessments
and they usually underestimate the health risks
associated with oil sands expansion.
6. Emergencies:
If there is a chemical emergency or any other industrial
disaster, the residents living in this region must
rely on a telephone system to be notified of a “Shelter
in Place” or evacuation. Shelter in Place means you
go indoors immediately, lock doors and windows, enter
and seal a smaller room, seal doors and windows
with duct tape or wet cloths, and close all vents that
draw in air from outside. The system is fl awed with
human and technical errors. During a recent H2S
leak, it took almost three hours for residents in the
immediate area to be notified.
7. Directly affected:
A proposed industrial facility is not required to go to
a hearing if there are no individuals deemed “directly
affected.” Usually, only those residents living within
a five kilometre distance of a proposed industrial site
are considered “affected” and qualify for financial assistance
for legal representation and witnesses. Yet,
pollution knows no bounds. The narrow interpretation
of “directly affected” is part of a government trend to
streamline, fast track, and simplify regulatory processes.
The result is that individuals and environmental
groups are preventing from participating in public
hearings.
Residents’ demands:
The individuals who live and work in and
around the Alberta Industrial Heartland are
not against industrial development. They support
responsible development that is ecologically
and socially sustainable. They call for
the following:
-
A complete, thorough, and accurate counting
of all industrial emissions and an assessment
of the combined impact by independent
auditors.
-
A halt to the rezoning of land for industrial
use until the promised provincial land use
strategy is developed.
-
The development of a provincial water
policy that protects and preserves Alberta’s
water.
-
The development of environmental laws
with enforceable pollution regulations.
-
A full independent environmental impact
assessment to assess the cumulative impact
of current and proposed industrial activity
prior to permitting any further industrial
expansion.
-
Removal of the restrictions on who’s
“directly affected.” Give all Albertans the
opportunity to participate in Alberta’s regulatory
approval processes and have a voice in
protecting their resources, their environment
and their future.
– Research provided by the Sturgeon/Strathcona
chapter of the Council of Canadians.
For more information, please contact the Council of Canadians’ Prairies Regional Office at 1-877-729-4500, or visit canadians.org.
