An Integrated Monitoring Plan for the Oil Sands
On December 16, 2010, the Independent Oil Sands Advisory Panel presented its report to the Minister of the Environment with recommendations for the development of a world class monitoring plan for the oil sands region
An Integrated Monitoring Plan for the Oil Sands
On December 16, 2010, the Independent Oil Sands Advisory Panel presented its report to the Minister of the Environment with recommendations for the development of a world class monitoring plan for the oil sands region.
In response to this report and other concerns, the Minister of the Environment committed the Government of Canada to lead, in collaboration with Alberta, the development of an environmental monitoring plan for the oil sands.
The first phase of this was entitled “A Water Quality Monitoring Plan for the Lower Athabasca River,” and was released in March. Building on that, the second phase of the plan was announced on July 21, 2011.
The integrated approach added air and biodiversity monitoring in addition to an expansion of the water component announced in March.
This Plan will provide the scientific foundation necessary to detect problems in the region and provide governments and industry with the information that they need to ensure the environmentally sustainable development of this important resource.
The Plan includes a strong focus on integration among components. The basis for th