The pipeline would transport oil from the alberta tar sands in canada to american refineries at the gulf of mexico. The communities along this corridor have long faced health impacts and pollution from these refineries, and the pollution is only getting worse as the refineries accept and process tar sands crude, which exposes residents to even greater levels of toxic chemicals, particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, lead, carbon dioxide, and other harmful. Now is a critical opportunity for canada to shift to a more diverse, cleaner energy strategy before we saddle ourselves to the financial and environmental risks of a fuel that has little space. Dec 07, 2009 tar sands mining linked to stream pollution.
Toxic cloud of tar sands waste travels from detroit to canada. Tar sands pollution the scientific evidence youtube. Tar sands impact on climate change posted on 23 august 2011 by dana1981. For a closer look at the network of existing and proposed tar sands pipelines and refineries, download this map pdf put together by. Oil sands are either loose sands or partially consolidated sandstone containing a naturally occurring mixture of sand, clay, and water, soaked with a dense and extremely viscous form of petroleum technically referred to as bitumen.
No future for tar sands canadian centre for policy alternatives. Canadas tar sands mining operations seem to be raising the levels of toxins in local rivers, according to a study released today. Jan 18, 2012 tar sands pollution the scientific evidence. Aerial image of an oil sands processing facility and. Deep in canadian lakes, signs of tar sands pollution. Download over 427 ocean pollution royalty free stock video footage, motion backgrounds, and after effects templates and more. Jan 08, 20 that is a testimony to industry efforts to clean up air pollutionor, as scott wenger, manager of government relations for tar sands producer suncor says of the steam and smaller amounts of. The problem is that oil sands producers use more water a year than the city of calgary and. Tar sands in alberta is canadas worst environmental disaster. Oil sands, tar sands, crude bitumen, or more technically bituminous sands, are a type of unconventional petroleum deposit. Heres evidence that albertas oil fields are polluting the water.
Here is a map put together by nrdc of the existing and proposed tar sands dilbit pipelines. Canada cant increase tar sands production or build more pipelines if the world is to achieve the targets on global carbon emissions set by the paris agreement on climate. Feb 23, 2012 the european union failed to label oil produced from tar sands as highly polluting on thursday, with a key vote by member states ending in deadlock the issue is seen as a key test of the eus. A tar sands spill, because the oil is heavier and not in a liquid form, can enter streams and lakes and just sink to the bottom. The sierra club is fighting to keep tar sands in the ground because, put simply, producing tar sands is one of the most environmentally destructive industrial developments in the world. In a nutshell gravels or sands that are saturated with very heavy crude oil. Mining tar sands produces much more air pollution than we thought research shows that emissions of a class of air pollutants are two to three orders of magnitude.
The report states that like many of the environmental challenges facing the tar sands, air pollution from the tar sands is not being managed well enough to protect our communities, our. The harm the tar sands will do the projects expected costs to our forests, water and air. Ottawa the amount of pollution created by vapor from canadas oil sands, which contributes to climate change, ranks on par with most major cities in north america, according to a new study. The european union failed to label oil produced from tar sands as highly polluting on thursday, with a key vote by member states ending in deadlock the issue is seen as a key test of the eus. The panels contain recognized experts in the fields of water pollution, watershed monitoring and petroleum science. Deep in canadian lakes, signs of tar sands pollution the contaminants researchers found at the bottom of alberta lakes are from air pollutants coming from tar sands oil production and processing. That is a testimony to industry efforts to clean up air pollutionor, as scott wenger, manager of government relations for tar sands producer suncor says of the steam and smaller amounts of. What are tar sands and why should you oppose them and how to. Bill mckibben of and clayton thomasmuller of the indigenous tar sands campaign spoke out on monday night at a vigil at union square. Researchers find that pollutants in canadas athabasca river are not from natural sources.
S oil sands is poised to launch the nations first tar sands mining operation at pr springs, not far from arches and canyonlands national parks. Sep 20, 2007 the harm the tar sands will do the projects expected costs to our forests, water and air. We will work with the province to ensure this plan becomes written into law without delay. Please share this video with your friends and family in order to help spread the word. Tar sands make up a mere two per cent of our national economynot insignificant but by no means the economic powerhouse they are often portrayed to be. The refining process known as coking releases oil from tar sands, and leaves petroleum coke as its byproduct. Canadas tar sands is the thirdlargest proven crude oil reserve in the world behind saudi arabia and venezuela. Or use these shareable graphics we have created for you. The european union has indicated that it may vote to label oil sands oil as highly polluting. While the alberta government says only 3 percent of the area is suitable for strip mining, in which forest and bog overburden is stripped away, that still amounts to about 1,850. Oil sands found to be a leading source of air pollution in. Eu tar sands pollution vote ends in deadlock environment. Here are 7 key facts about the oil sands and the environment.
Alberta tar sands pollution evidence is devastating. The extent to which pollution from tar sands industrial activities in northeastern alberta, canada affects ecosystem and human health is a matter of growing concern that is exacerbated by uncertainty. Polluter bailouts and lobbying during covid19 pandemic. Ninety percent of this water becomes so toxic that it must be stored in tailing ponds. Alberta, canada contains the largest deposits of crude bitumen in the world, the biggest of which is the athabasca tar sands. What are tar sands and why should you oppose them and how. Tar sands air pollution, both provincial and transboundary, is. Others, however, have mounted a campaign over worsening pollution and. Dec 31, 2015 the dirty fight over canadian tar sands oil dredging up oil from under canadas boreal forest and piping it through the united states is a loselose proposition. Big oil is spending millions of dollars on ads, desperately trying to convince canadians that the tar sands are not harming our air. Tar sands disaster for the climate, indigenous rights, and the environment duration.
See sink or skim, onearths infographic on why tar sands oil is more difficult to clean up than. In 2011 it was believed the reserve amounted to 170. Technological advancements in the oil sands have helped create more energy efficient practices and to decrease ghg emissions in the oil sands. The syncrude oil sands plant is seen north of fort mcmurray, alberta. The top layer of muskeg and earth right, and the underlying tar sands left after the removal of the muskeg, at the syncrude tar sands operations near fort mcmurray, alberta, on september 17, 2014. Tar sands air pollution, both provincial and transboundary, is rapidly increasing.
Free air pollution stock video footage 4,041 free downloads. Tar sands impact on climate change skeptical science. Sep 25, 2014 the top layer of muskeg and earth right, and the underlying tar sands left after the removal of the muskeg, at the syncrude tar sands operations near fort mcmurray, alberta, on september 17, 2014. The extent to which pollution from tar sands industrial activities in northeastern alberta, canada affects ecosystem and human health is a matter of growing concern that. James cameron, oil sands, tar sands, alberta, canada, climate change, pollution, avatar, tailing pongs, global warming james cameron warns that canadas tar sands could become a curse if they are not managed properly. Epa600776035 december 1976 production and processing of u. Jul 22, 2014 alberta tar sands pollution evidence is devastating by dave armstrong 22 jul 2014 10. The tar sands region of northern alberta, canada contains recoverable oil reserves conservatively estimated at 175 billion barrels, and with new technology could reach 400 billion barrels. Mazey battelle columbus laboratories columbus, ohio 43201 contract number 680223 project officer eugene harris resource extraction and handling division industrial environmental.
Oil sands raise levels of cancercausing compounds in. Poisoned waters using the chesapeake bay and puget sound as case studies, frontline explores the question of why, almost 40 years after the passage of the clean water act, our waters are still troubled. Jan 07, 20 oil sands development is polluting nearby remote alberta lakes with rising levels of a toxic carcinogen, refuting longstanding claims that waterway pollution in the region is largely naturally. The tar sands, more commonly referred to in canada as the oil sands, are the worlds thirdlargest petroleum reserve and underlie an area roughly the size of florida. I was doing a masters in environmental studies in 2008 and all the research i was doing on the tar sands. Oil sands found to be a leading source of air pollution in north america open this photo in gallery. Oilsands development is polluting nearby remote alberta lakes with rising levels of a toxic carcinogen, refuting longstanding claims that waterway pollution in. Not only will these further exacerbate climate change, but they pose immediate risks to our communities of oil train explosions and coal dust and tar sands pollution. The petroleum is created in the same fashion as other petroleum. Tar sands can be processed and mined to extract the oilrich bitumen. Aug 27, 2015 on the tarsands campaign, then and now. Tar sands take 3 barrels of water to process every barrel of oil extracted. Alberta tar sands pollution evidence is devastating by dave armstrong 22 jul 2014 10.
Thats the central conclusion of a new report by oil change internationaloci, a u. Canadian tar sands pollution moves south to us refineries sej. Canadian scientists have found that the standard way of tallying air and climate pollution from albertas oil sands vastly understates pollution levels there. We will work with the province to ensure this plan becomes written into. Pollution from canadian oil sands vapor is substantial, study. Free air pollution stock video footage licensed under creative commons, open source, and more. Oil sands, tar sands, crude bitumen, or more technically bituminous sands, are a type of. Tar sands bitumen is a lowgrade, heavy substance, says anthony swift, director of nrdcs canada project. We already know that tar sands have a devastating impact on our waterfrom poisoning rivers and water tables, to killing wildlife, to using millions of gallons. Thats why the alberta governments promise to put a hard cap on tar sands carbon emissions is so important. Making the connections on tarsands pollution, racism, and. Aerosols from the production of heavy oil is a growing climate and pollution concern because new tar sands developments are on the drawing board in venezuela, utah and elsewhere, the study says. Indigenous groups lead struggle against canadas tar sands. Oilsands may emit more co2 than companies report youtube.
Per barrel greenhouse gas ghg emissions have decreased. Indigenous groups lead struggle against canadas tar sands video report by. Free pollution stock video footage 207 free downloads. Air pollution from the tar sands is already reaching albertas existing limits on pollution, limits. Aug 02, 20 the refining process known as coking releases oil from tar sands, and leaves petroleum coke as its byproduct.
Pollution from canadas oil sands may be underreported. Tar sands climate pollution cannot continue to grow indefinitely. Alberta in canada boasts one of the biggest oil deposits in the world. But the epa says pipelines that carry tar sands oil, like the. From tar sands oil to aviation, global business sectors have. North americas risky race to exploit oil sands and shales.
One of the most important mechanisms used to achieve this is cogeneration. Air pollution and the tar sands, sets the record straight and shows big oil is failing to take care of the air we breathe. Tar sands also referred to as oil sands are a combination of water, clay, sand and bitumen, a heavy black viscous oil. Water and the tar sands climate action network canada. Tar sands pipelines should be held to different standards up until now, the u. Aerial image of an oil sands processing facility and associated tailings pond below aircraft. Beginning on 20 august 2011, bill mckibben is leading what may be the largest green civil disobedience campaign in a generation, against the proposed construction of the 1,600mile long keystone xl pipeline. Tapping the energy resource, supporters say, will be a boon for utahs local economy and the countrys energy security, while posing few negative consequences, given the remoteness of the operati. New research shows that hydrocarbon pollution in five lakes near the. This means that a fair amount of the air and water pollution, energy and water resource needs, solid and toxic waste, and greenhouse gas emissions associated with the tar sands will be moving south of the border. In canada, oil refineries have sprung out of the ground at an astounding pace. A tar sands spill is also different from a normal crude oil spill, such as the one in the gulf of mexico last year that bp caused. The dirty fight over canadian tar sands oil dredging up oil from under canadas boreal forest and piping it through the united states is a loselose proposition.
Unlike conventional crude, when bitumen is released into a water body, it sinks. New tars sands impact on air pollution found scientific. The oil sands give alberta the third largest reserves in the world, but extracting the oil is energyintensive and destructive. Bill mckibben of and clayton thomasmuller of the indigenous tar sands campaign spoke out on monday night at a vigil at union square in new york city against the keystone xl oil pipeline. May 25, 2016 oil sands found to be a leading source of air pollution in north america open this photo in gallery. Nov 26, 20 canadas tar sands is the thirdlargest proven crude oil reserve in the world behind saudi arabia and venezuela. May 25, 2016 aerosols from the production of heavy oil is a growing climate and pollution concern because new tar sands developments are on the drawing board in venezuela, utah and elsewhere, the study says. Big oil is spending millions of dollars to greenwash the tar sands, canadas fastest growing source of greenhouse gas pollution. Mazey battelle columbus laboratories columbus, ohio 43201 contract number 680223 project officer eugene harris resource extraction and handling division industrial environmental research laboratory cincinnati, ohio 45268. Todd korolreuters polluting industries around the world are using.
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