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Save Wildlife by Removing Alberta’s Toxic Tailings Ponds
  1. Signatures
    1,912 out of 5,000
    Petitioning
    1. Chairman, ERCB (+ 8 others)
      Petitioning
      close
      • Chairman, ERCB (Dan McFadyen)
      • Senior Advisor to the Chair (Gordon Miller)
      • Senior Executive to the Chair (Mike Bruni)
      • General Counsel (Patricia Johnston)
      • Chief Financial Officer (Tom Heywood)
      • Public Involvement (Tom McGee)
      • Executive Manager, Oil Sands Branch (Terry Abel)
      • Minister of Environment (Rob Renner)
      • Premier (Ed Stelmach)
  2. Created By
    Laura Goldman
    Los Angeles, CA
About this Petition Petition Letter Petition Updates

About 350 ducks had to be euthanized earlier this week after they landed on a Syncrude tailings pond in Alberta and were covered with oil. The same thing occurred in 2008, but in that incident more than 1,600 ducks died after landing in the toxic sludge.

Syncrude's waterfowl deterrent system, consisting of flashing lights and air horns, did not save the lives of the ducks. The fowl may have become disoriented and exhausted while flying through a storm.

The tailings ponds at Syncrude and other Alberta oil companies are directly in the path of migratory bird patterns. Other animals like moose and bears die daily in the toxin-filled ponds.

Early last year, Alberta's Energy Resources Conservation Board (ERCB) implemented Directive 74, which requires oil companies to gradually reduce the tailings ponds over the life of an oil sands project. But environmental experts say the board has been dragging its feet in enforcing the directive's regulations.

As long as the wet ponds are not replaced with dry tailings, wildlife will continue to perish in the oil. Tell the ERCB to enforce Directive 74 so that tailings ponds are eliminated sooner than later.

Photo credit: Grant Neufeld

Why People Are Signing
Recent Signatures

Enforce the Removal of Alberta's Tailings Ponds

Greetings,

On the night of October 25, 350 ducks made the fatal decision of landing on a Syncrude tailings pond, and as a result, had to be euthanized. This is not an isolated incident: two years ago, more than 1,600 ducks faced the same fate when they landed on a tailings pond.

Waterfowl deterrents like horns and flashing lights are not going to save ducks’ lives in these situations. Since the ponds are directly in the path of migratory bird patterns, more deaths are bound to occur in the future. Other animals like moose and bears are also regular victims of the tailings ponds.

I urge you to strongly enforce Directive 74 and impose stiffer penalties on Syncrude and other oil companies that are not taking steps to reduce their tailings ponds per the directive. Tailings ponds are toxic for both the environment and wildlife. The sooner you can ensure their removal, the better for the planet.

Thank you.

[Your name]

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