Keepers of the Athabasca is distressed to hear that yet another large group of birds is dead due to toxic tailings in the bitumen mining region of Northern Alberta. We ask the Alberta Energy Regulator to require industry to replace the so called "bird deterrents" as they are now definitively proven not to work. Green chemistry and dry processing options must be considered and implemented. If industry won't get less impactful methods into play, and protect wildlife and human health, regulators must require that they do. Keepers recently participated in the Mine Financial Security Program working group, and asked that full financial security for bitumen mine clean-up be required.

» RELEASE: More birds dead in toxic tailings: before plant even opens! (885KB PDF, with diagrams)
» DIAGRAM: Active evaporation (160KB PDF)
» DIAGRAM: Evaporation tanks, not tailing ponds (311KB PDF)