Alberta Regulator Won’t Reconsider Suncor Expansion Approval

The Alberta Energy Regulator has affirmed its decision not to reconsider approvals for Suncor Energy for the expansion of an oilsands mine into a wetland that was previously under consideration for environmental protection.

The regulator issued its decision today in regards to a request made by the Alberta Wilderness Association last spring.

Suncor was recently granted permission to expand its Fort Hills mine into the McClelland Lake wetland complex, a large and undisturbed wetland area that is mainly inside the company’s leased property.

The regulator temporarily stopped those permits in order to evaluate the association’s concerns about Suncor’s proposal to extract from half of the wetland while safeguarding the other portion with a 14-kilometer underground wall reaching depths of up to 70 meters.

The decision maintains the initial approvals.

Scientists estimate that the entire wetlands hold between eight million and 35 million tonnes of carbon dioxide.

It is estimated that the wetland will cover a billion barrels of bitumen.