TheRussianRocket. Posted June 14, 2013 Share Posted June 14, 2013 http://ca.news.yahoo...-165646105.html A toxic waste spill in northern Alberta has killed off roughly 42 hectares of boreal forest, in what could be the biggest environmental disaster in North America in recent history. The spill was first discovered on June 1st, about 100 kms south of the border with the Northwest Territories, near the small town of Zama City. Texas-based Apache Corporation, the oil company responsible for the spill, just released their estimate of its size on Wednesday. According to their figures, 9.5 million litres of 'produced water' was released into the environment, covering the equivalent of over 50 football fields-worth of land. [ Related: Officials investigating contaminant spill site in northern Alberta ] "Every plant and tree died," said James Ahnassay, chief of the Dene Tha First Nation, according toThe Globe and Mail, as he spoke of the effect the spill has had on the land. The Dene Tha apparently also believe that waterfowl may have been killed in the spill, which took place in a wetlands area, but according to The Globe and Mail, Apache representatives said they saw no impacts on wildlife. 'Produced water' is a toxic combination of salt water, oil and chemicals that's a byproduct of extracting oil from the ground. According to Apache's press release: Produced water comes from formation fluids which are extracted during oil and gas operations that contain naturally occurring oil, gas, non-potable water, salt and other minerals. As a part of the production process, formation fluids are brought to the surface and treated to remove recoverable oil and gas. The remaining produced water and associated minerals are re-injected back into the producing formation to maintain the integrity of the reservoir. The water release at Zama involved produced water that had already been treated to remove hydrocarbons. However, according to The Globe and Mail article: The Energy Resources Conservation Board, Alberta’s energy regulator, said it contained roughly 200 parts per million of oil, or about 2,000 litres in total. But information compiled by the Dene Tha suggests the toxic substance contains hydrocarbons, high levels of salt, sulphurous compounds, metals and naturally occurring radioactive materials, along with chemical solvents and additives used by the oil industry. So, although this water did have the majority of the useful oil removed, it is far from harmless, and according to the Dene Tha, with the amount of damage the spill has done, it may have been there for months before it was found. The cause of the leak isn't known at the moment, but it's at least the third spill in the region in recent years. About a month ago, there was a leak from a Pace Oil and Gas injection well site near Rainbow Lake, in northeastern Alberta, that released an estimated 3.5 million litres of oil and emulsion into the local environment. Back in 2011, nearly 4.5 million litres of oil spilled out of a Plains Midstream Canada pipeline near Peace River, in northwest Alberta. According to The Globe and Mail, the Energy Resources Conservation Board was asked by the Dene Tha to enforce upgrades to the aging equipment and pipelines that companies in the area use, but with this spill Mr. Ahnassay expressed his doubts about the government's efforts: "We don't believe that the government is doing enough to ensure upgrades and maintenance of the lines." [ More Geekquinox: Study says SW B.C. in ‘risk zone’ for mega-earthquake ] According to Apache, the leak has stopped and the spill has been contained, and they are continuing to map and monitor the affected area as they move equipment and personnel into position to clean up the spill. In a statement quoted by The Globe and Mail, environmental activist Mike Hudema said: "This latest spill should call into question the provincial government’s decision to hide the pipeline safety report they received last year and the failure to follow through on the public pipeline safety review the Minister of Energy promised last July." This pipeline safety report, commissioned in July 2012 to address public concerns about leaks, was apparently delivered in early May 2013, but the Alberta government has delayed release of the report. No date has been given for its release. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
King Heffy Posted June 14, 2013 Share Posted June 14, 2013 Even bigger than Marchand. On a serious note, yet another reason to keep the pipeline out of BC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeNiro Posted June 14, 2013 Share Posted June 14, 2013 Destroying the planet for the sake of a profit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hsedin33 Posted June 14, 2013 Share Posted June 14, 2013 Destroying the planet for the sake of a profit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drouin Posted June 14, 2013 Share Posted June 14, 2013 Thats terrible, saw it on the news. Awful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raph Posted June 14, 2013 Share Posted June 14, 2013 Will they get a slap on the wrist or will they actually get a real punishment this time? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dilly Canuck Posted June 14, 2013 Share Posted June 14, 2013 The Oilers are and always will be the biggest oil spill in Alberta. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HC20.0 Posted June 14, 2013 Share Posted June 14, 2013 And people think the pipeline is a good idea.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pouria Posted June 14, 2013 Share Posted June 14, 2013 The Oilers are and always will be the biggest oil spill in Alberta. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dilly Canuck Posted June 14, 2013 Share Posted June 14, 2013 And people think the pipeline is a good idea.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr.DirtyDangles Posted June 14, 2013 Share Posted June 14, 2013 Thanks for the link Rocket ! Alberta is one giant toxic waste spill. The provincial policies are killing the land and the people on it. This post just sent my rage meter through the roof. Frak I want out of this cesspool of a province. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CALGARY! Posted June 14, 2013 Share Posted June 14, 2013 Thanks for the link Rocket ! Alberta is one giant toxic waste spill. The provincial policies are killing the land and the people on it. This post just sent my rage meter through the roof. Frak I want out of this cesspool of a province. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr.DirtyDangles Posted June 14, 2013 Share Posted June 14, 2013 Then leave. No one is forcing you to be here. There is no need to bash a province over a spill caused by a private corporation. It's hypocrites like you who make my rage meter raise, you come to Alberts to fill some sort of need, be it education or employment, but then you just bash the province. If you hate it so much pack your stuff up and head east or west. You don't need to bash me or my homeland. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CALGARY! Posted June 14, 2013 Share Posted June 14, 2013 Listen son, why do you live here? If it sucks so bad why do you stay? That's hypocritical to claim to hate a place and it's policies but continue to be a part of it and contribute to it by living here. Sounds like you need some learning son, I've lived here longer then 25 years, I've also lived in Vancouver and Toronto, I find the cost of living, healthcare, day to day items is much less here then the other two cities I mentioned, I fail to see how I am getting raped. I have also worked in Zama City 10 years ago, and I currently work for an airline whose primary customers are oil companies. Your pretty clueless if you don't know how careful oil companies operate. Accidents happen in every industry, but I'll tell you one thing the oil companies spare no expense in cleaning up. Been out to Glennifer Lake this year bud? If you had not heard about it you would never know there was a spill last year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackberries Posted June 14, 2013 Share Posted June 14, 2013 Please enlighten me to my hypocrisy brah ? Bashing you ? You are clueless bud. Isn't Canada your homeland ? I have lived in Alberta for over 25 years and have deal with ignorant Alberta fools like you on a daily basis. There is every need to bash this pathetic province with people like you who feel the need to defend a land that is basically devoid of any common sense. From it's environmental destruction over the past 100 years to it's insane provincial policies this province is the biggest cash cow in the land and rapes it's citizens with it's ancient redneck screw everyone else attitude. Albertan's think the world owes them something. You need some learnin' son. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackberries Posted June 14, 2013 Share Posted June 14, 2013 Your pretty clueless if you don't know how careful oil companies operate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkeeterHansen Posted June 14, 2013 Share Posted June 14, 2013 I agree with Alberta being the "Texas of Canada". I also find that statement hilarious. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CALGARY! Posted June 14, 2013 Share Posted June 14, 2013 The only redneck attitude is discriminating against an entire province for no good reason. Did every single citizen in Alberta mistreat you and cause you to have such a hate. Can you explain why you hate the province so much? We are all Canada, let's try to get along. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackberries Posted June 14, 2013 Share Posted June 14, 2013 The only redneck attitude is discriminating against an entire province for no good reason. Did every single citizen in Alberta mistreat you and cause you to have such a hate. Can you explain why you hate the province so much? We are all Canada, let's try to get along. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rented Mule Posted June 14, 2013 Share Posted June 14, 2013 Listen son, why do you live here? If it sucks so bad why do you stay? That's hypocritical to claim to hate a place and it's policies but continue to be a part of it and contribute to it by living here. Sounds like you need some learning son, I've lived here longer then 25 years, I've also lived in Vancouver and Toronto, I find the cost of living, healthcare, day to day items is much less here then the other two cities I mentioned, I fail to see how I am getting raped. I have also worked in Zama City 10 years ago, and I currently work for an airline whose primary customers are oil companies. Your pretty clueless if you don't know how careful oil companies operate. Accidents happen in every industry, but I'll tell you one thing the oil companies spare no expense in cleaning up. Been out to Glennifer Lake this year bud? If you had not heard about it you would never know there was a spill last year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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