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New monitoring sites in the NWT, including on the Slave River at Fort Smith, will check for impacts from Alberta's oil sands development. - NNSL file photo

NORTHWEST TERRITORIES
The NWT will play a role in a new monitoring plan for the oil sands development announced earlier this month by the federal and Alberta governments.

"There will be monitoring stations for air, water and biodiversity located in the Northwest Territories," said Mark Johnson, a spokesperson for Environment Canada in Ottawa.

The monitoring stations will be located at Fort Smith, Hay River and Fort Resolution.

"As we move forward with implementation, we will work with the Government of the Northwest Territories on the details associated with each station, including the necessary technical expertise to support monitoring in the area," Johnson noted.

The Joint Canada-Alberta Implementation Plan for Oil Sands Monitoring was announced Feb. 3. Under the plan, increased air, water, land and biodiversity monitoring of the oil sands will begin this year.

It is designed to improve understanding of the long-term cumulative effects of oil sands development by more frequent monitoring for more substances at an increased number of sites.

The plan is one of the most transparent and accountable oil sands monitoring systems in the world, said federal Environment Minister Peter Kent in a news release. "These scientific reports will be posted on our web page for the world to see."

The three-year implementation plan will begin in the spring with increased sampling frequency, parameters and locations. It will also integrate relevant parts of existing monitoring efforts.

Tom Unka, environment manager with the Fort Resolution Metis Council, is pleased the new monitoring system will be established.

"The people know there's a concern," he said about the residents of Fort Resolution. "There's a high cancer rate. The people are starting to point to the water now and they're saying it's got to be the water or something."

Unka said he has been telling elders there are going to be studies and the water will be checked.

"They're excited about that and that something is finally happening now," he said.

Environment and Natural Resources Minister Michael Miltenberger welcomed the new implementation plan in a statement to the legislative assembly on Feb. 13.

"The Joint Canada-Alberta Implementation Plan for Oil Sands Monitoring is a solid first step in addressing the concerns raised by aboriginal peoples, scientists and concerned residents, both upstream and downstream, of impacts of the oil sands development on our waters," he said.

Miltenberger said the new monitoring plan is based on sound science and incorporates world-class tools to monitor and assess air quality, water quality and quantity, aquatic ecosystem health, wildlife toxicology, terrestrial biodiversity and habitat disturbance.

"Collaboration with our government and residents of the Northwest Territories is definitely required if the monitoring plan is to be successful," he said. "We will continue to press both Canada and Alberta to include our government in the implementation of monitoring programs and encourage the participation and engagement of aboriginal people in it as well. We will be requesting representation on the independent oversight committee for our government and aboriginal groups."

Miltenberger added he will seek further clarification on key aspects of the plan and confirm the GNWT's continued involvement through all phases of the program.

Johnson of Environment Canada said the governments of Canada and Alberta together already spend significant amounts on monitoring the oil sands, but increased resources will be required.

"The cost to industry of the implementation plan would be up to $50 million a year, which includes the significant funding of roughly $20 million they already provide," he said, adding Environment Canada spends $6 million annually on oil sands monitoring and will maintain that commitment.

After the first three years, costs are expected to decline as initial monitoring work will allow prioritization of efforts.

Johnson said governments will make corrective action where necessary, and in conjunction with other stakeholders as appropriate.

The Environment Canada spokesperson noted an effort will be made to include traditional ecological knowledge into the implementation of the plan, and members of local communities will have opportunities for training and involvement in monitoring activities.

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