Oil sands giant Syncrude Canada is in an Alberta court this week for the beginning of its trial over the 2008 deaths of 1,600 ducks in one of its tailings (waste material) ponds. Syncrude faces one charge under the federal Migratory Birds Convention Act and another charge under the Alberta Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act.
The 1,600 ducks died in Syncrude’s tailings pond in Fort McMurray, northern Alberta, in April 2008. They sank to the bottom of the pond after becoming coated in oily sludge. It was initially estimated that 500 birds had died, but a revised total was released last March.
Provincial wildlife biologist Todd Powell told the court that roughly a dozen ducks were shot on the tailings pond the following day as he deduced they were unlikely to survive. “There was no chance they could be saved,” he said.
The company has pleaded not guilty to all charges brought by both the federal and provincial governments. The Crown alleges Syncrude was negligent in its responsibility to protect the migratory birds.
In the St. Albert courtroom on Monday, Syncrude lawyer Robert White said the incident was a mistake, not a criminal offense. “There’s no question that the settling basin and its contents was the reason that these birds died and there is no question at all but that the settling basin is Syncrude’s responsibility and is morally culpable, but they are not guilty of criminal offenses,” he said.
On Tuesday, the court was shown photographs and videos of the bitumen-covered ducks trapped in the tailings pond. Outside the courtroom, White criticized photos of some of the ducks being attacked by ravens as “showboating,” adding that the pictures were “a terrible thing to see”.
The 1,600 ducks died in Syncrude’s tailings pond in Fort McMurray, northern Alberta, in April 2008. They sank to the bottom of the pond after becoming coated in oily sludge. It was initially estimated that 500 birds had died, but a revised total was released last March.
Provincial wildlife biologist Todd Powell told the court that roughly a dozen ducks were shot on the tailings pond the following day as he deduced they were unlikely to survive. “There was no chance they could be saved,” he said.
The company has pleaded not guilty to all charges brought by both the federal and provincial governments. The Crown alleges Syncrude was negligent in its responsibility to protect the migratory birds.
In the St. Albert courtroom on Monday, Syncrude lawyer Robert White said the incident was a mistake, not a criminal offense. “There’s no question that the settling basin and its contents was the reason that these birds died and there is no question at all but that the settling basin is Syncrude’s responsibility and is morally culpable, but they are not guilty of criminal offenses,” he said.
On Tuesday, the court was shown photographs and videos of the bitumen-covered ducks trapped in the tailings pond. Outside the courtroom, White criticized photos of some of the ducks being attacked by ravens as “showboating,” adding that the pictures were “a terrible thing to see”.
