scholarly journals Quantifying the impacts of oil sands development on wildlife: perspectives from impact assessments

2020 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 129-137 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mac A. Campbell ◽  
Brian Kopach ◽  
Petr E. Komers ◽  
Adam T. Ford
Keyword(s):  
Oil Sands ◽  
Industrial Development ◽  
Habitat Model ◽  
Model Parameters ◽  
Application Process ◽  
Habitat Amount ◽  
Natural Region ◽  
Environmental Impact Assessments ◽  
Regulatory Decisions ◽  
Wildlife Impacts

Anthropogenic landscape disturbances, including industrial development, can have significant impacts on wildlife populations. In Canada, federal, territorial, and provincial laws require major industrial development projects to submit detailed environmental impact assessments (EIA) reports as part of the project application process. These assessments are meant to establish baseline habitat conditions and predict which landscape components will be altered by the project and to what degree. Based on these changes, indirect predictions for wildlife impacts are made using a variety of models, which can vary in validation adequacy and often rely heavily on expert opinion. In the oil sands region of Canada, wildlife species and habitat types used to make predictions are not comprehensive nor standardized between EIAs, despite a high degree of landscape similarity between projects. We extracted habitat model parameters, projected impacts, and anticipated mitigation effectiveness from 30 project EIAs. Despite all these projects occurring in the same natural region, we found very little agreement in the species used to assess wildlife impacts as well as the parameters used to model impacts on those species. Relative to unvalidated habitat models, we found that models receiving independent validation required half the habitat amount for proponents to conclude that the project will have an adverse effect. Our analyses have exposed many areas where policy could improve the efficiency of the EIA process as well as the scientific rigour underlying regulatory decisions.

Assessment of seven Canadian rivers in relation to stages in oil sands industrial development, 1972–2010

2016 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 484-494 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.C. Alexander ◽  
P.A. Chambers
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Water Chemistry ◽  
Oil Sands ◽  
Industrial Development ◽  
Upstream Site ◽  
Land Clearing ◽  
Oil Sands Mining ◽  
Operational Activities ◽  
Positive Correlations ◽  
Mine Development

We compiled a 38 year dataset (1972 to 2010) to evaluate changes in water chemistry over time in relation to oil sands mining activities. We examined patterns in three focal elements (dissolved selenium, dissolved arsenic, total vanadium) at 96 sites along seven tributaries of the Athabasca and Clearwater Rivers. Concentrations of the three focal elements did not differ between sites sampled upstream versus downstream of future development, between sites upstream versus downstream of the primary bitumen-bearing geologic formation, or at an upstream site over a 33 year period on the Muskeg River (1976–2009). Hence, longitudinal patterns observed in water chemistry following mine development cannot be attributed to natural background variation. In contrast, concentrations and loads of the three focal elements were greater post-development compared to reference values (p ≤ 0.01), and were typically greatest during the early exploration and land clearing stage of mine development (p < 0.01). Positive correlations between our three focal elements and 17 other variables either associated with bitumen or considered priority pollutants (r ≥ 0.13, p ≤ 0.04) suggest that the historical impacts of oil sands development on water quality extend beyond our three focal parameters. These results indicate that erosion and subsequent runoff associated with land clearing, construction, and early operational activities have affected water quality in the oil sands region.

scholarly journals Moose refugia from predation by wolves near mines in the Athabasca oil sands

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric Neilson ◽  
Stan Boutin
Keyword(s):  
Population Growth ◽  
Human Disturbance ◽  
Oil Sands ◽  
Forest Cover ◽  
Habitat Model ◽  
Open Pit ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
Athabasca Oil Sands ◽  
Human Use ◽  
Tailings Ponds

Areas near human disturbance may become prey refugia when predators avoid human activities more than their prey leading to decreased predation rates and/or increased prey population growth. Alberta’s Athabasca oil sands region (AOSR) is home to moose (Alces alces) and wolf (Canis lupus) populations and is characterized by extensive human disturbance including open pit mines, tailings ponds and industrial facilities. We examined the extent to which moose could be released from predation near Alberta’s Athabasca oil sands due to wolf avoidance of mining infrastructure. Using moose and wolves GPS telemetry, we compared the use of natural habitats and distance to mining features to the availability of these variables. We split mining features into high human-use facilities and low human-use pit mines and tailings ponds. We binned distance to mining features variables into distance buffers covering the range of moose home range diameters resulting in buffers of < 2.5 km, 2.5-5 km and 5-10 km. Moose models included an interaction between distance to mining features buffers and the distribution of wolves to assess whether moose exposure to wolves varies with proximity to human activity. We compared a habitat model including forest cover type, streams and rivers to a disturbance model using AIC. The model fitting habitat and distance to facilities was top-ranked for both species. Moose selection for areas near facilities was higher than wolves. Wolves avoided areas within 10 and 5 km of facilities but exhibited an equivocal response within 2.5 km. Moose exposure to wolves increased with distance to mines indicating that use of areas in proximity to human disturbance releases moose from predation by wolves. Human induced prey refugia could increase moose population growth and increase human-moose conflict. Additionally, moose dispersal out of the refuge areas could produce subsequent increases in the wolf population.

scholarly journals International scientific environmental research on sustainableindustrial development. The life path of dr. Heinz Leuenberger

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 164-166
Author(s):  
Galina Krusir ◽  
◽  
Olga Sagdeeva ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Industrial Development ◽  
Manufacturing Sector ◽  
Flow Analysis ◽  
Material Flow Analysis ◽  
Resource Efficiency ◽  
Environmental Research ◽  
Research Experience ◽  
Environmental Impact Assessments ◽  
International Projects ◽  
Life Path

The article deals with the main scientific priorities of the development of environmental research on sustainable industrial development under the leadership of the international expert in the field of natural resource efficiency and cleaner industrial production, Dr. Heinz Leuenberger, Professor and Senior Advisor at the University of Applied Sciences, Basel (FHNW). Current priorities of his scientific research are green industry, resource efficiency and cleaner production, environmental impact assessments, wastewater, hazardous waste and chemicals management, material flow analysis. Extensive practical research experience and constant work in international projects in the field of environmental protection are aimed at introducing the results into the manufacturing sector of European countries.

scholarly journals Moose refugia from predation by wolves near mines in the Athabasca oil sands

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric Neilson ◽  
Stan Boutin
Keyword(s):  
Population Growth ◽  
Human Disturbance ◽  
Oil Sands ◽  
Forest Cover ◽  
Habitat Model ◽  
Open Pit ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
Athabasca Oil Sands ◽  
Human Use ◽  
Tailings Ponds

Areas near human disturbance may become prey refugia when predators avoid human activities more than their prey leading to decreased predation rates and/or increased prey population growth. Alberta’s Athabasca oil sands region (AOSR) is home to moose (Alces alces) and wolf (Canis lupus) populations and is characterized by extensive human disturbance including open pit mines, tailings ponds and industrial facilities. We examined the extent to which moose could be released from predation near Alberta’s Athabasca oil sands due to wolf avoidance of mining infrastructure. Using moose and wolves GPS telemetry, we compared the use of natural habitats and distance to mining features to the availability of these variables. We split mining features into high human-use facilities and low human-use pit mines and tailings ponds. We binned distance to mining features variables into distance buffers covering the range of moose home range diameters resulting in buffers of < 2.5 km, 2.5-5 km and 5-10 km. Moose models included an interaction between distance to mining features buffers and the distribution of wolves to assess whether moose exposure to wolves varies with proximity to human activity. We compared a habitat model including forest cover type, streams and rivers to a disturbance model using AIC. The model fitting habitat and distance to facilities was top-ranked for both species. Moose selection for areas near facilities was higher than wolves. Wolves avoided areas within 10 and 5 km of facilities but exhibited an equivocal response within 2.5 km. Moose exposure to wolves increased with distance to mines indicating that use of areas in proximity to human disturbance releases moose from predation by wolves. Human induced prey refugia could increase moose population growth and increase human-moose conflict. Additionally, moose dispersal out of the refuge areas could produce subsequent increases in the wolf population.

The undrained equilibrium behaviour of gassy sediments

1984 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 439-448 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. C. Sobkowicz ◽  
N. R. Morgenstern
Keyword(s):  
Pore Pressure ◽  
Oil Sands ◽  
Predictive Accuracy ◽  
Gulf Coast ◽  
Saturation Pressure ◽  
Deep Ocean ◽  
Model Parameters ◽  
Pore Pressure Response ◽  
Soil Behaviour

Gassy soils are defined as those soils which contain a relatively large amount of gas dissolved in the pore fluid. Examples include the Alberta Oil Sands, marine sediments from deep ocean locations, geopressure reservoirs along the Gulf Coast, and other naturally occurring, gas-charged reservoirs.The equilibrium behaviour during unloading with undrained boundary conditions is examined. Contrary to conventional experience with soils containing only a small amount of gas, gassy soils exhibit an equilibrium pore pressure response close to zero. Effective stress, and hence strength, decrease commensurately with total stress at the soil boundary.Laboratory observations of gassy soil behaviour are presented, which confirm the predictive accuracy of the theoretical model. Parameters important to the determination of gassy soil behaviour include the in situ state of stress (σ0 and u0), the liquid/gas saturation pressure (ul/g), the gas solubility (H), saturation (S), and the soil and liquid compressibilities (βT and βL). Key words: undrained, pore pressure, compressibility, gas, shear strength, unloading, laboratory, ex-solution.

Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) nest success and nestling growth near oil sands mining operations in northeastern Alberta, Canada

2019 ◽  
Vol 97 (6) ◽  
pp. 547-557 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine M. Godwin ◽  
Robert M.R. Barclay ◽  
Judit E.G. Smits
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Oil Sands ◽  
Industrial Development ◽  
Nest Success ◽  
Tachycineta Bicolor ◽  
Tree Swallows ◽  
Reference Sites ◽  
Mining Operations ◽  
Contaminant Exposure ◽  
Nestling Growth

Industrial development and contaminant exposure may affect reproductive success and food quality for birds. Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolor (Vieillot, 1808)) nesting near oil sands development in northern Alberta (Canada) potentially experience elevated environmental stressors that could influence reproduction. We measured reproductive and growth endpoints in Tree Swallows, predicting reduced reproductive success and nestling growth near oil sands operations compared with reference sites. We also identified the invertebrate prey in the stomach contents of nestlings to understand variability in the diet and its potential effect on growth and survival of nestlings. From 2012 to 2015, clutch initiation varied among years but was not influenced by proximity to oil sands operations. Hatching and fledging success decreased in response to increased precipitation, regardless of location. Measurements of nestling growth reflected the variation associated with nestling sex and possibly asynchronous hatching. The composition of the nestling diet was significantly different; birds near oil sands development consumed Odonata, whereas birds at reference sites consumed Ephemeroptera. Nestlings from all sites consumed relatively high quantities of terrestrial insects. Our results demonstrate that factors such as weather conditions, diet, hatching order, and nestling sex are important when interpreting the potential effects of oil sands development on nest success and nestling growth.

scholarly journals Use of a mechanistic growth model in evaluating post-restoration habitat quality for juvenile salmonids

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos M. Polivka ◽  
Joseph R. Mihaljevic ◽  
Greg Dwyer
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Quality ◽  
Growth Parameters ◽  
Habitat Type ◽  
Growth Patterns ◽  
Habitat Model ◽  
Individual Growth ◽  
Spatially Explicit ◽  
Model Parameters ◽  
Growth Data ◽  
Habitat Differences

AbstractIndividual growth data are useful in assessing relative habitat quality, but this approach is less common when evaluating the efficacy of habitat restoration. Furthermore, available models describing growth are infrequently combined with computational approaches capable of handling large data sets. We apply a mechanistic model to evaluate whether selection of restored habitat can affect individual growth. We used mark-recapture to collect size and growth data on sub-yearling Chinook salmon and steelhead in restored and unrestored habitat in five sampling years (2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2016). Modeling strategies differed for the two species: For Chinook, we compared growth patterns of individuals recaptured in restored habitat over 15-60 d with those not recaptured regardless of initial habitat at marking. For steelhead, we had enough recaptured fish in each habitat type to use the model to directly compare habitats. The model generated spatially explicit growth parameters describing size of fish over the growing season in restored vs. unrestored habitat. Model parameters showed benefits of restoration for both species, but that varied by year and time of season, consistent with known patterns of habitat partitioning among them. The model was also supported by direct measurement of growth rates in steelhead and by known patterns of spatio-temporal partitioning of habitat between these two species. Model parameters described not only the rate of growth, but the timing of size increases, and is spatially explicit, accounting for habitat differences, making it widely applicable across taxa. The model usually supported data on density differences among habitat types in Chinook, but only in a couple of cases in steelhead. Modeling growth can thus prevent overconfidence in distributional data, which are commonly used as the metric of restoration success.

scholarly journals Recent Regulatory and Legislative Developments of Interest to Oil and Gas Lawyers

2005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan Harvie ◽  
Terrance M. Hughes
Keyword(s):  
Urban Areas ◽  
Oil Sands ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Oil And Gas Industry ◽  
Gas Industry ◽  
Staff Members ◽  
Well Spacing ◽  
Environmentally Sensitive ◽  
Legislative Changes ◽  
Regulatory Decisions

This article identifies and outlines significant regulatory decisions, legislative changes and regulatory policy developments occurring from April 2003 through March 2004 that primarily affect the midstream and upstream oil and gas industry in Canada. It begins by reviewing major National Energy Board (NEB) decisions, including pipeline and powerline applications and recent toll and tariff rulings. The NEB portion of the article outlines important procedural issues, such as Appropriate Dispute Resolution, a new Filing Manual and pre-application meetings with staff members. The article emphasizes the significant impact that NEB decisions have on the Canadian energy industry. The authors also highlight applications in environmentally sensitive or urban areas, special well spacing requests and joint review panel decisions concerning oil sands projects. Directives and guidelines from Alberta Energy and Utilities Board concerning the gas over bitumen issue are mentioned. In addition, the authors examine a series of legislative developments that will impact the industry, including amendments to various statutes and regulations by the Canadian. Alberta and British Columbia governments.

Reclamation of boreal forest after oil sands mining: anticipating novel challenges in novel environments

2015 ◽  
Vol 45 (3) ◽  
pp. 364-371 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick Audet ◽  
Bradley D. Pinno ◽  
Evelyne Thiffault
Keyword(s):  
Boreal Forest ◽  
Oil Sands ◽  
Industrial Development ◽  
Restoration Ecology ◽  
Land Reclamation ◽  
Anthropogenic Impacts ◽  
Mining Industry ◽  
Novel Ecosystems ◽  
Natural Ecosystems ◽  
Oil Sands Mining

Boreal forests in northern Alberta have a growing anthropogenic footprint due to a rapidly growing oil sands mining industry. Although land reclamation is a necessary aspect of responsible industrial development, these activities nearly always affect higher order landscape components such as the broader landform, and its hydrology and biogeochemistry. Recent anthropogenic impacts are then believed to result in new environmental conditions and obstacles under which the boreal forest is developing, potentially leading to irreversibly different environments that could be characterized as novel ecosystems. Reflecting an emerging trend across the field of restoration ecology, these novel ecosystems are not necessarily undesirable. Instead, they are an unavoidable consequence of pervading anthropogenic effects on natural ecosystems. It is our view that successful reclamation outcomes can still be derived so long as policy and regulatory requirements are afforded the necessary scope and economic flexibility to account for the development of hybrid and novel ecosystems among highly disturbed mine sites. Hence, this analysis seeks to situate current and anticipated challenges affecting the reclamation of boreal forest following oil sands mining by describing (i) how regulatory criteria shape reclamation practices and targeted end goals and (ii) how these approaches embody latest trends and priorities in the area of restoration ecology.

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