CBC Reporting on the CNRL Tailings Pond

frpaquette · #1 11-15-2010, 12:05 PM

I'm appalled at the ill-informed reporting I read on the CBC this morning. They ran a story based on what the writers and editors thought "appeared" in an arial video. Very irresponsible on CBC's part, and all just to get more attention and make more money.

In short, the tailings pond under "investigation" has dykes built on 3 sides, but relies on a natural rise in the topography to complete the 4th side of the pond. The natural ground is made of clay in this area, so it is impermeable to seepage -- even more so than the constructed dykes are.

Let me shed some light on this subject before things get out of control. CNRL is legally allowed to build tailings ponds in this matter, as approved by the ERCB. These types of structures are actually very common in mining operations all over the world, including other parts of Canada. Of course, you would never hear about them, because writing about anything other than defamation of the oil sands doesn't make any money.

I should mention that CBC writes how "Streams appear to flow toward and away from the tailings pond". However, this is physically impossible, since water cannot flow in two directions at the same time. Water is flowing INTO the tailings ponds, yes, but NOT away from them. That would be flowing uphill, which is impossible. Note that water flowing INTO a tailings pond does zero damage to the environment.

CBC also reports that wildlife could have been drinking from this tailings pond. First, they wouldn't drink the water IN the tailings pond, just the water flowing into it from a natural stream, which is completely harmless. Second, even if there were a berm on the western side of the tailings pond, it would do nothing to stop wildlife from walking up and over it to the tailings on the other side. This point is moot since all other tailings ponds could potentially have wildlife walking all over them, and the wildlife doesn't drink from these existing ponds at all the other sites.

Again, very disappointed in the quality of reporting by the CBC. Very, very weak "investigative journalism".

elkhunter11 · #2 11-15-2010, 12:13 PM

Why would anyone trust anything reported by the CBC?

frpaquette · #3 11-15-2010, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elkhunter11

Why would anyone trust anything reported by the CBC?

Good point.

stuckincity · #4 11-15-2010, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elkhunter11

Why would anyone trust anything reported by the CBC?

CBC "news"?

I think the Weekly World News is more credible.

http://www.google.com/images?hl=en&q...w=1131&bih=663

frpaquette · #5 11-15-2010, 03:39 PM

Well the ERCB has commented on the story the CBC ran earlier this morning.

"CBC story not accurate: ERCB

The ERCB sent out a news release Monday stating the CBC story was inaccurate — that the tailings are not leaking into the muskeg or a stream at the western edge.

"The water body in question is a minor stream which flows downhill into the tailings pond," ERCB spokesman Davis Sheremata said in written statement,

"The tailings pond and the stream lie at the bottom of the natural depression and all water in the area flows into the pond, not out of it."

Sheremata said ERCB inspectors checked the site on Monday and found it was compliant with its regulations.""

Perhaps if the CBC did a bit more investigation before they ran such a horribly researched story, they would have found this out beforehand.

Thank you CBC, for your knee-jerk, ill-informed, reactionary, sensationalist, slanted reporting.

beansgunsghandi · #6 11-15-2010, 03:50 PM

Where does the water that flows in to a tailings pond go? Is it all lost to evaporation (having a hard time thinking that's the case in winter)? Serious question, the water either has to evaporate off, sink into groundwater, or some other "exit" or it will eventually overfill the container.

frpaquette · #7 11-15-2010, 04:09 PM

Yes, it is mostly evaporated away, even in winter. The water which sits on top of the MFT tailings is drawn off and recycled in the extraction process.

It does not sink into the ground water. The tailings dykes and clay layer are impermeable. It will never overfill the container because it is reused for extraction. They also continuously increase the dyke elevation until end of pond life, at which point it is reclaimed -- a feat which has recently been performed by another oil sands mining firm a few months ago.

sheepguide · #8 11-15-2010, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beansgunsghandi

Where does the water that flows in to a tailings pond go? Is it all lost to evaporation (having a hard time thinking that's the case in winter)? Serious question, the water either has to evaporate off, sink into groundwater, or some other "exit" or it will eventually overfill the container.

Not sure on that exact area but many places use water out of these ponds in their production facilities and on drilling locations instead of using fresh water. Im sure that the water is being used before the pond would ever be over filled by the small stream feeding it.
SG

beansgunsghandi · #9 11-15-2010, 04:13 PM

Thanks for the info frpaquette and Sheepguide.

Deo101 · #10 11-15-2010, 05:19 PM

CBC already posted a story taking back what their story earlier...now stating that creek runs into the pond...not sludge seeping out. I still think the tailings ponds r a huge issue but glad to hear that one has been reclaimed. And on a bright CNRL hasn't killed any ducks.....

Cal · #11 11-16-2010, 07:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deo101

CBC already posted a story taking back what their story earlier...now stating that creek runs into the pond...not sludge seeping out. I still think the tailings ponds r a huge issue but glad to hear that one has been reclaimed. And on a bright CNRL hasn't killed any ducks.....

True, because ducks only ever land on Syncrude ponds