Media Contact: Simon Dyer, Chris Severson-Baker

The Pembina Institute will outline the impacts of and propose solutions for deep oil sands development at the second of seven oil sands consultation meetings today in Peace River.

As the Institute points out, most of Alberta's oil sands are too deep to mine. Oil must be extracted using other methods that result in a dense network of roads, wells and pipelines throughout the forests of Alberta. Deep oil sands extraction could potentially impact 21% of Alberta.

"Alberta desperately needs a vision for deep oil sands development that ensures protection of the environment is a priority," says Simon Dyer, who is presenting on behalf of the Pembina Institute at 1:00 pm today at the second of a series of province-wide Oil Sands Multi-stakeholder Panel public input sessions in Peace River (see www.oilsandsconsultations.gov.ab.ca/ for details).

"Development of the current deep oil sands leases is projected to devastate as much forest as will be cleared by oil sands mining," says Dyer, Senior Policy Advisor with the Pembina Institute. "We need a new vision for deep oil sands extraction that ensures it occurs at a rate that protects our forests and wildlife."

Dyer sets out specific steps needed to achieve that vision:
- Implementation of regional plans that limit the cumulative impacts of development on air, land and water. The plans should include a network of protected areas and wildlife corridors within the boreal forest.
- Establishment of protective thresholds that will not be crossed. These should ensure maintenance of adequate flows in rivers, groundwater protection, air quality and conservation of wildlife habitat and species.
- Put a moratorium on new oil sands lease sales until an adequate plan is in place.

An author of the Pembina Institute/CPAWS report, Death by a Thousand Cuts: Impacts of In-situ Oil Sands Development on Alberta's Boreal Forest, Dyer will highlight some of the land and wildlife impacts that will occur if deep oil sands development rolls out over the area already leased for deep oil sands development—an area the size of Vancouver Island.

The Pembina Institute urges Albertans to attend the consultation sessions and/or file their comments online (see www.oilsandsconsultations.gov.ab.ca/).

For more information:

Simon Dyer: cell 403-322-3937
Chris Severson-Baker: cell 403-899-7423
Download: Death by a Thousand Cuts: The Impacts of In Situ Oil Sands Development on Alberta's Boreal Forest (Fact Sheet)