In its Decision, the EUB addresses matters relating to the Suncor Project including; project need, social and economic effects, public consultation, resource recovery, tailings management, air, groundwater, surface water, health effects, traditional land use, regional environmental initiatives, technology, and liability management.  The Decision also states that Alberta Environment is the appropriate regulatory authority for managing green house gas emissions from the Voyageur Project.   

The EUB Decision places seven conditions on Suncor that relate to environmental and technical aspects of the project. The conditions include increasing tailings efficiency by 2009, providing the EUB with detailed information related to reclamation of tailings ponds, and submitting plans to incorporate additional tailings techniques beginning in 2007.

In its approval, the Board also notes the Suncor project will not require additional water beyond its existing allocation.

In the Decision, the EUB states that it appreciates that continued oil sands development has the potential to further strain public infrastructure and public service delivery in the Wood Buffalo region.  The EUB believes that the responsible government agencies are aware of and are responding to a number of the socioeconomic impacts.  The EUB believes that additional infrastructure investment in the Wood Buffalo region is needed, and it believes that there is a short window of opportunity to make these investments in parallel with continued oil sands development.

The EUB Decision makes two recommendations to the Government of Alberta.  The EUB recommends that coordinated action be taken at all levels of government to ensure that the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo has the ability to service the anticipated level of sustained growth in the region.  The EUB also recommends that the Government of Alberta continue to work with the Northern Lights Health Region to address the lack of land, infrastructure, and resources that the Northern Lights Health Region is currently faced with in Fort McMurray.

This EUB Decision follows a public hearing held in Fort McMurray from July 5 to 20, 2006.

The EUB ensures that the discovery, development, and delivery of Alberta’s energy resources and utility services take place in a manner that is fair, responsible, and in the public interest.

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This decision can be found on the EUB Web site at www.ercb.ca

For more information, please contact:

Darin Barter, EUB Communications

Phone: 403-297-4116     Cell: 403-681-0946        

Email: darin.barter@eub.ca

NR2006-47