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Alta to develop oil sands monitoring program
The Alberta government is introducing new environmental initiatives, according to the province's 2011 Throne Speech.
February 28, 2011 by Hazmat Management
The Speech, which was read by Alberta Lieutenant-Governor Donald S. Ethell on February 22, 2011, highlighted new initiatives the government is implementing to enhance environmental sustainability in the province.
These initiatives include:
-developing an oil sands monitoring program
-working with the forest industry to develop a road map for using wood fibre in the emerging bio-economy, particularly in renewable energy and fuels.
In January 2011, the province appointed an expert panel to make recommendations for developing an oil sands monitoring program. The 12-member panel will report its recommendations to the government by June 2011.
The 12 members are:
-Hal Kvisle (co-chair) – vice-chair of the Nature Conservancy of Canada
-Dr. Howard Tennant (co-chair) – former University of Lethbridge president and vice-chancellor
-Dr. Warren Kindzierski – professor at the University of Alberta’s School of Public Health
-Dr. David Williams – environmental consultant specializing in human health and environmental risk assessment
-Dr. Gregory Taylor – biological science professor and dean of science at the University of Alberta
-Dr. Helen Ingram – professor at the University of California-Irvine’s School of Social Ecology
-Dr. Joseph Rasmussen – biological sciences professor at the University of Lethbridge
-Dr. Andrew Miall – geology professor at the University of Toronto
-Dr. Joseph Doucet – energy policy economist at the University of Alberta’s School of Business
-Dr. Ron Wallace – scientist and environmental consultant specializing in environmental research and oil sands mining
-David Pryce – vice president of operations for the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers
-Bruce Carson – executive director of the Canada School of Energy and Environment.
Apart from new environmental initiatives, the Speech showcased environmental and occupational health and safety (oh&s) measures currently underway in the province. These include:
-using the Climate Change and Emissions Management Fund to explore renewable energy opportunities, such as carbon capture and storage technology
-completing a groundwater mapping and inventory program
-completing the first regional plan for the Lower Athabasca area
-continuing to implement the 10-point plan to improve oh&s in Alberta.
The Speech also unveiled Bill 1, the Asia Advisory Council Act, which, if passed, will allow the Alberta government to create a council to make recommendations on how the province can expand business, education and cultural relationships between Alberta and Asia.
This would include exporting agricultural, energy, forestry and mineral resources to markets in India, China, Japan, and Korea.
The full Throne Speech is available at www.alberta.ca/home/thronespeech.cfm
This news item first appeared in EcoLog News (2/25/2011). To learn how to subscribe, visit www.ecolog.com
