Alberta to check oilsands ponds for duck deterrents

Oilsands sites will be monitored by the Alberta government in April to make sure companies maintain deterrents to keep migrating ducks from landing on tailings ponds.

The province's announcement Monday comes at the start of migratory bird season and nearly a year after 500 ducks died after landing on a tailings pond operated by oilsands giant Syncrude.

Officials will check tailings ponds at the Syncrude, Suncor, Albian and CNRL-Horizon sites. They will also do more on-site spot checks and weekly updates.

In April 2008, air cannons that were supposed to be set up around a Syncrude pond were missing because of harsh winter conditions, the company said. 

The ducks landed on the open water and sank to the bottom of the pond after they were coated in oil.

Provincial officials will check tailings ponds at the Syncrude, Suncor, Albian and CNRL-Horizon sites. They will also do more on-site spot checks and weekly updates.

The province has done this kind of monitoring in the past, said Jason Cobb, a spokesman for Alberta Environment, but there will be some changes, though he wouldn't elaborate on what they might be.

"In some aspects there may be a need to do some things a little bit differently than in the past," he said. "But the main focus of this … is to ensure this season that all of the systems are in place and operating the way they're supposed to be."

Syncrude faces one charge under the Alberta Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act and one charge under the federal Migratory Birds Convention Act in relation to the April 2008 duck deaths.

The company will be back in court in Fort McMurray on June 10.