Managing the Impacts of Large-scale Industrial Activity on Water:

The Alberta Oil Sands

Darha Phillpot and Nathalie Maurer

Presentation date: March 19, 2008

Presentation Overview:

The aim of this session is:

1. To understand the scale of the Oil Sands development and its economic importance to Alberta and Canada; 
2. To develop a technical understanding of the demands for water as an input to the Oil Sands processes and implications to water quantity and quality;
3. To understand the governance framework in place to manage the development, with a focus on instream flow needs; 
4. To critically assess the governance framework according to the principles of IWRM.

This session will include a role playing exercise, which you were assigned last class.  As you conduct the readings, please keep in mind your role, values, interests and BATNA.

Readings:  

For an overview of the scale, some technical information, economic importance, and governance framework for the Oil Sands development please read pg. 1-4 of:

Alberta’s Oil Sands 2006  produced by Alberta Department of Energy .

For additional technical understanding and background of the impacts of the Oil Sands development to the Athabasca River please read the first section (focusing on Sec 1.2 Instream Flow Needs) – pg. 1-11 of:

Running out of Steam? Oil Sands Development and Water Use in the Athabasca Watershed: Science and Market Based Solutions by David Schindler et al.

To learn about Alberta Environments Interim Framework and its limitations please read:

Down to the Last Drop: The Athabasca River and Oil Sands published by the Pembina Institute.

To familiarize yourself with the water related multistakeholder governance structure in place to deal with water, please read the Overview, Section 5 (about the Cumulative Effects Management Association) and Section 6 (about the Regional Aquatics Monitoring Program) of

The Joint Community Update 2008 prepared jointly by CEMA and the Regional Aquatics Monitoring Program.

And Editorial in the Fort McMurray Today about the recent CEMA request for a moratorium.

To read a critique of the current Royalty Regime for the Oil Sands read only the conclusions and recommendations - pg. 27 and 28 of:

Thinking Like an Owner by the Pembina Institute .

Supplementary Readings:

Water Management Framework by Department of Fisheries and Oceans and Alberta Environment.

Surface Oil Sands Water  Management Report

Commissioned by CEMA.

Presentation Outline:

Part A – Introduction (35 minutes)

1. Introductory Video
2. Water Cycle of the Oil Sands Production Area
3. Governance Framework for Oil Sands Development
4. Instream Flow Needs Assessment

Part B – Role Playing (45 minutes)

Scenario:
The Minister of the Environment has asked CEMA to come up with recommendations for the second phase of the Management Framework for Water for the Athabasca Oil Sands Region. You are a member of CEMA and have been invited to participate in a multi-stakeholder brainstorming session intended to lay the ground for further work.

Directions:

In your multi-stakeholder groups, please consider the gaps in the interim framework from the perspective of the values and interests of your organization. Report back on the following questions:

Question 1: How does expansion affect you and your interests? Etc

Question 2: What should the priorities be for the Phase 2 of the Water Management Framework?

Question 3: What are your recommendations?

Part C – Wrap Up (10 minutes)