Wed, April 1, 2009
Fowl fatal figure flap
Syncrude reveals duck tragedy triple initial toll - which it and province knew in July
By KERRY DIOTTE, LEGISLATURE BUREAU CHIEF
Province knew in July the real toll at the tailings pond.
Syncrude and the Alberta government knew nine months ago that three times as many ducks died in an oilsands tailings pond than initially reported - but officials didn't make the higher death toll public until yesterday.
The Alberta government was told in July that more than 1,600 ducks died in a Syncrude oilsands tailings pond north of Fort McMurray, but Environment Minister Rob Renner didn't learn that tally until yesterday, he admitted.
Syncrude officials yesterday revealed that the reported death toll of 500 ducks in its oil-soaked pond in April 2008 was actually 1,606. The deaths of the migratory birds made news worldwide.
The oilsands giant revealed the new number during a news conference where it vowed to step up monitoring of its tailings ponds this year, especially since migratory birds are expected to soon be flying over the area after wintering in the south.
A company spokesman said in an interview it informed the province of the 1,606 death toll number in July. "There was to be no communication or update until the government announced their own results," said Syncrude spokesman Mark Kruger.
Renner told reporters in a call-in news conference he knew months ago that the duck death toll was higher but didn't inquire about the new tally in part because there was an ongoing investigation into the deaths.
CHARGED FEB. 9
"You don't want to do anything to compromise the ability to lay charges," he said. "My focus has been on ensuring it doesn't happen again."
Syncrude was charged Feb. 9 by both the federal government and the province for the duck deaths.
It could face fines of up to $800,000. Renner said the fines cannot increase because of the higher duck death toll.
Liberal Opposition environment critic Laurie Blakeman was aghast at the latest developments.
"Of course the environment minister should have known the numbers in July," the Edmonton Centre MLA said. "It doesn't bode well for Albertans that the minister of the environment seems indifferent as to whether 500 ducks died or 5,000.
"I think this is another case that shows it's pretty obvious there's never been an open and transparent government as they claim," she said.
The Grit critic said the Tories frequently hide behind the excuse that they can't reveal information because a case is before the courts.
COULD BE REVEALED
But, most often that information could be revealed without jeopardizing the right to a fair trial, she said.
"The drowning of the waterfowl last April shouldn't have happened and is unacceptable," Syncrude president and CEO Tom Katinas said yesterday.
"There is tremendous resolve in our organization to learn from this experience and help ensure it does not happen again."
KERRY.DIOTTE@SUNMEDIA.CA
http://www.edmontonsun.com/News/Alberta/2009/04/01/8959211-sun.html
