Ottawa responds to NAFTA challenge that it’s not tough on tailings pond leaks
EDMONTON — The Canadian government says it lacked the scientific evidence to determine if oilsands tailings ponds were leaking into waterways and hurting fish.
But the government says it continues to work on methods to determine if chemicals associated with bitumen in groundwater are natural, or the result of industry.
The government has provided a response to a call from the environmental arm of NAFTA to explain what Canada is doing to stop oilsands tailings ponds from leaking into Alberta waterways.
The document was submitted to the Commission for Environmental Co-operation on Friday night.