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Tar Sands Giant Total falls short on Green Promises
News Articles | Sierra Club Prairie | August 24, 2010
Edmonton – Just a day after Total made claims to be putting forward an ‘environmentally responsible mining project,’ one of the provinces’ largest environmental groups – Sierra Club Prairie has filed a submission to have the project shelved. The submission outlines a series of glaring detrimental effects that the new mine, if approved, will have on the environment and Treaty rights. In addition to highlighting areas of concern, Sierra Club also highlights the technology that Total originally said would be part of the mining proposal but has since been removed. Total’s updated proposal flies in the face of several provincial and federal statements to eliminate toxic tailing waste ponds, move away from open pit mining projects, and to use carbon capture and storage technology.
“The application for the Joslyn Mine falls ridiculously short of the green promises made by Total,” explains Sheila Muxlow, Director with the Sierra Club Prairie. “Original promises of dry tailings and carbon capture and storage to mitigate the pollution from this project have been rescinded and what is left is another toxic mine that will decimate an area the size of 13,000 football fields and add more harm to an already overwhelmed area.”Sierra Club Prairie’s submission focuses on water quality concerns and the cumulative physical effects of the project, putting into perspective how the Joslyn open pit mine will exacerbate existing environmental contamination in the region. The submission continues with a request for a sustainability approach to assess the mine proposal, particularly with respect to assessing greenhouse gas emissions. If such an approach was used Sierra Club Prairie believes the board would have no choice but to turn down Total’s application.
“Total needs to realize we live in the twenty-first century,” asserts Dustin Johnson, new Energy campaigner with the Sierra Club Prairie. “Respect for Treaty rights, environmental sustainability, and long-term thought for future generations are the components necessary for any new energy projects. Total’s project violates all three. We just hope the Alberta and federal governments see that too and break their 100% approval rating for tar sands projects. We need a safe, sustainable future, not more of a toxic legacy.”
Tagged with: sierra club, total, joslyn north mine project, open pit mine
