A secret federal government memo calls the oilsands a significant environmental and financial risk to Alberta.
An Ottawa researcher obtained the document through access to information legislation this week, finding that bureaucrats are unconvinced that more focus on in-situ mining will address environmental issues.
It says that in-situ projects are accelerating emissions even faster, and that it’s far from clear that tailings ponds from pit mining can be successfully reclaimed.
It suggests that tailings ponds could cause permanent damage.
The memo was written just under a year ago ahead of a roundtable discussion with oil companies.
Published February 21, 2012
