AWA’s feedback on the discussion paper: Path forward for evaluating policy options for managing the accumulation of oil sands mine water in tailings ponds

June 27, 2025

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• Oil Sands

Earlier this year, Environment and Climate Change Canada released a publication entitled Discussion Paper: Path forward for evaluating policy options for managing the accumulation of oil sands mine water in tailings ponds. Developed in collaboration with Indigenous communities in Alberta, the paper seeks input on whether federal regulations should allow the release of treated oil sands mine water into the environment. ECCC does acknowledge that the document may not fully or accurately reflect the positions of all Indigenous groups involved.

For over 50 years, oil sands mining in northeast Alberta has produced vast quantities of mine water and tailings — waste material mixed with water — that are stored in massive tailings ponds. These ponds, which contain waters of varying toxicity, take up large amounts of land and pose ongoing risks of seepage into the environment. Despite these concerns, some operators asked the federal government to develop regulations that would authorize the release of treated oil sands mine water into the Athabasca River watershed.

AWA strongly opposes this direction.

Our Key Feedback

AWA does not support the development and/or implementation of regulations and/or management plan(s) that may permit the eventual release of oil sands tailings effluent (treated or otherwise) into the Athabasca River watershed. ECCC should continue to prohibit the discharge of oil sands effluent indefinitely while industry and other stakeholders develop an adequate solution for reclamation and remediation.

Why this matters

The Government of Alberta and the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) are failing in their duty to ensure environmentally responsible energy development. In 2020, it was revealed that millions of litres of tailings water were seeping into the environment daily despite containment systems. More recently, research by Dr. Kevin P. Timoney exposed serious failures in how the AER monitors and reports tailings spills. Of 514 spills reported between 2014 and 2023, 97% were not inspected by the AER, contradicting its claim of routine spill inspections. Photos of spill sites showed evidence of environmental harm in nearly half of the cases, directly opposing AER claims that none caused damage.

The release of tailings into the Athabasca River watershed is not a solution, it is a transfer of risk from industry to the environment, and to present and future generations living in the Athabasca River watershed. Instead of enabling industry demands, ECCC should uphold and enforce existing environmental legislation and make reclamation and safe effluent treatment mandatory before any discharge is ever considered.

Read AWA’s full submission here.