Greenpeace demands independent public inquiry into bird deaths, stiffer penalties and investigation of all tailings ponds

Additionally, Greenpeace called on the Stelmach government to:

• Appoint an independent team of wildlife and environmental experts to search the other tailings ponds in the province for dead wildlife and/or environmental infractions;
• Ensure that no new tailings ponds are built or expanded, and that all existing ponds be assessed for compliance by independent monitors.
• Protect whistleblowers that come forward with evidence of environmental infractions, including workers at tar sands operations;
• Enact stiffer penalties for oil companies that fail to meet imposed environmental regulations.

"We need an independent board to investigate these bird deaths, the province’s role in them and determine the fines and personnel necessary to ensure this never happens again," said Mike Hudema, a Greenpeace tar sands campaigner. "A $1 million fine is little more than a parking ticket for a company that has Canadian Oil Sands Limited, Imperial Oil and Petro-Canada as investors. Canadian Oil Sands alone could pay off the fine within eight hours of operation based on their first-quarter profits of $298 million."

Greenpeace also asserted that the problem may be much wider than 500 birds, as indicated this week by reports that other animals have been seen in tailings ponds.

"It’s becoming more and more evident that these 500 birds represent just a fraction of the wildlife being affected by these toxic lakes and that people are taking notice," continued Hudema. "If the government continues to let big oil set the rules in this province then we will be forced to respond."

Greenpeace said it is considering a province-wide campaign asking potential whistleblowers to come forward if they have evidence of harm or threat to human health or wildlife.

For more information, please contact:

Jessica Wilson, Media and Public Relations Officer, 778-228-5404
Mike Hudema, Tar Sands Campaigner, 780-504-5601