AER Determines Athabasca Oil Sands Mining Operators in Compliance With Waterfowl Protection Requirements

CALGARY, ALBERTA--(Marketwired - Nov. 20, 2014) - The Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) has reviewed the recent waterfowl impacts in the Athabasca Oil Sands Area and has determined that the oil sands mining operations involved-Canadian Natural Resources Limited, Suncor Energy and Syncrude-were in full compliance with waterfowl protection requirements at the time of the incident.

On each site, waterfowl deterrent systems were in place and functioning at the time of the incident. Oil sands mining operators in the area use a variety of audio and visual means to deter waterfowl from landing on tailings ponds. Unfortunately, the intense weather conditions on November 4, 2014 forced the waterfowl to land on the ponds in spite of the deterrents. Operators in the area reported a total of 196 waterfowl deaths during this regional incident.

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The Alberta Energy Regulator has determined that oil sands mining operators in the Athabasca Oil Sands Area were in full compliance with protection requirements when intense weather conditions on November 4, 2014 forced migrating waterfowl to land on tailings ponds. A total of 196 waterfowl deaths were reported during the regional incident.