The unsolved mysteries of oilsands environmental monitoring – Pembina Blog

Building and running a comprehensive monitoring program for the oilsands that keeps pace with the rapid growth of the industry is very challenging — especially considering how huge the industry is already. Oilsands development currently produces 61 million tonnes of greenhouse gas pollution, consumes 185 billion litres of freshwater annually and has directly transformed more land area than the entire city of Calgary.

It’s been a busy week for oilsands monitoring: the Federal Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development delivered the findings of its audit of the Joint Canada-Alberta Oilsands Monitoring (JOSM) program, the Alberta Auditor General published its review of provincial responsibilities under this plan and the JOSM annual progress report for 2013-14 was also released.

These reports acknowledge the substantial effort undertaken to redesign, harmonize and streamline environmental monitoring in the oilsands. Bringing all environmental monitoring activities over a region that covers 21 per cent of Alberta under one roof is an enormous and commendable endeavour.

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