February 15 Updates | March 11 Updates | Resources: Learn, Take Action, & Amplify
Latest Updates
On March 13, 2023, Environment and Climate Change Canada released a statement regarding the Kearl releases, stating that "based on information enforcement officers have to date, the seep is believed to be deleterious, or harmful, to fish" and that a Fisheries Act direction had been issued to Imperial Oil requiring "immediate action to contain the seep and prevent it from entering a fish-bearing waterbody."
- News Ottawa says Kearl leaks harmful to wildlife; issues order to stop seepage (Global News/The Canadian Press | March 13, 2023)
- News Kearl oil sands leak exposes gaps in how Alberta and Canada oversee industry, say experts (Canadian Press | March 13, 2023)
- Media Release Statement from Indigenous and environmental experts on the federal government’s enforcement of the Fisheries Act in response to Imperial Oil leak (Keepers of the Water, Environmental Defence | March 14, 2023)
- Statement Statement by Minister Guilbeault on ongoing spill situation at Imperial Oil’s Kearl Oil Sands Processing Plant and Mine (Environment & Climate Change Canada | March 15, 2023)
- News Federal, Alberta governments to study public notice process around oilsands tailings leak (CBC News/The Canadian Press | March 15, 2023)
February 15 Updates
On February 7, 2023, the Alberta Energy Regulator issued an Environmental Protection Order (EPO) to Imperial Oil in response to two "containment incidents" at Imperial's Kearl Oil Sands Project northeast of Fort McKay. The EPO details that the first incident, involving seepage of industrial wastewater from Kearl's tailings ponds, was originally reported in May 2022. This release was not made known to the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation (ACFN), nor to the public at large, until the EPO was issued following the second incident on February 4, 2023 which involved the overflow of an estimated 5.3 million litres from an industrial wastewater storage pond. First Nations and environmental groups immediately expressed concern about the impacts to the environment, and about the long delay in making the initial leak known to the public.
- Announcement The AER Issues an Environmental Protection Order for Imperial’s Kearl Oil Sands Project (AER | February 7, 2023)
- News An Imperial Oil tailings pond has been leaking for nine months | The Narwhal ( February 8, 2023)
- Media Release Statement from Indigenous and environmental experts on Imperial Oil’s tailings pond 5.3 million litres leak (Keepers of the Water | Environmental Defence | February 9, 2023)
- News Keepers of the Water concerned tailings pond leak will end up in Athabasca River (APTN | February 15, 2023)
March 11 Updates
On March 2, Chief Allan Adam of the ACFN released a statement expressing their disappointment and dismay over "the failures of the Imperial and the Alberta Energy Regulator to inform us about ongoing and uncontained leaks from the tailings facilities at the Kearl Project. The AER released a statement indicating that "Notices of noncompliance (as were issued to Imperial) are not enforcement decisions and therefore are not publicly posted" and that "Regulator notification procedures were followed in this case."
- Media Release ACFN demands action and accountability from the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) and Imperial for multiple toxic tailings leaks and spill at Kearl (Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation | March 2, 2023)
- Media Release Ongoing toxic tar sands tailings breach highlights gross negligence from Alberta Energy Regulators (AER) (Indigenous Climate Action & Keepers of the Water | March 2, 2023)
- Announcement Alberta Energy Regulator Actively Investigating and Responding to Imperial Oil Kearl Site Incident (AER | March 2, 2023)
- News Toxic tailings leak ongoing concern for First Nation in northern Alberta (APTN | March 2, 2023)
- News Indigenous community accuses Imperial Oil, Alberta government of covering up industrial leak (The Globe and Mail | March 2, 2023)
- News Alberta band chief angry over silence from Imperial Oil after Kearl oilsands tailings spill (Global News/Canadian Press | (March 2, 2023)
- News Alberta oilsands spill hidden from First Nation an audacious act of ‘environmental racism’ (National Observer | March 3, 2023)
- News First Nations chiefs criticize Alberta premier’s Kearl oilsands tailings spill comments (Global News/CP March 9, 2023)
In addition to the delays in reporting the releases to First Nations, the Province of Alberta also failed to inform the Government of Canada and the Government of the N.W.T. as per agreements with those governments.
- News N.W.T. says lack of notice on Kearl oilsands tailings spill goes against deal with Alberta (Global News/Canadian Press | March 3, 2023)
- Analysis The Alberta Energy Regulator and the Disclosure Without Delay Rule in FOIP (ABlawg.ca, March 6, 2023)
- News Alberta Energy Regulator may have ignored law by not disclosing Kearl oilsands leak: lawyer (Global News/Canadian Press | March 6, 2023)
- News Alberta didn’t reveal Imperial Oil leak for months, says Environment and Climate Change Canada (The Globe and Mail, March 8, 2023)
- News Alberta silence over Kearl oilsands spill ‘worrisome,’ says federal environment minister (Global News/Candain Press | March 9,2023)
- Opinion Heads should roll over massive Alberta spill by Imperial Oil | National Observer (March 11, 2023)
Resources
Learn more about oil sands tailings, take action, and amplify the concerns around the Imperial Oil Kearl Project leaks.
- Toolkit Holding Imperial Accountable! Toolkit (Keepers of the Water)
- Toolkit Amplification Kit (Indigenous Climate Action)
- Report 50 Years of Sprawling Tailings: Mapping decades of destruction by oil sands tailing (CPAWS Northern Alberta & Environmental Defence)