Suncor tells regulator reconsidering approvals would arm industry opponents

Suncor oil sands coker. Suncor

Oilsands giant Suncor says reopening the debate over mining an ecologically valuable wetland would play into the hands of industry opponents and upset Alberta’s energy development.

In April, the Alberta Energy Regulator decided to reconsider approvals it granted last fall for Suncor to mine part of McClelland Lake, a large and intact wetland about 90 kilometres north of Fort McMurray once considered for conservation.

The decision was a response to studies filed last spring by environmental groups saying Suncor’s plans would damage the wetland and release thousands of tonnes of carbon.

But in documents filed Thursday, Suncor says proceeding with the reconsideration would give those groups and others a way to challenge decisions already made, adding unnecessary process and delaying development.

It would also let groups intervene in the process that otherwise wouldn’t be allowed to.

Suncor maintains its plans, which include building a wall up to 70 metres deep between the mined and unmined parts of the wetland, are environmentally sound and in the public’s interest.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 28, 2023.

The Canadian Press

News from © The Canadian Press, 2023. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

• 0084 EMP Metals Pipeline Online
  0084 EMP Metals Pipeline Online
• 0053 Kingston Midstream Westspur Alameda Click
  0053 Kingston Midstream Westspur Alameda Click
• 0082 CsHM 2024 Pipeline
  0082 CsHM 2024 Pipeline
• 0077 Caprice Resources Stand Up For Free Speech
  0077 Caprice Resources Stand Up For Free Speech
• 0076 Latus only
  0076 Latus only
• 0061 SIMSA 2024 For Sask Buy Sask
  0061 SIMSA 2024 For Sask Buy Sask
• 0055 Smart Power Be Smart with your Power office
  0055 Smart Power Be Smart with your Power office
• 0051 JML Hiring Pumpjack assembly
  0051 JML Hiring Pumpjack assembly
• 0049 Scotsburn Dental soft guitar
  0049 Scotsburn Dental soft guitar
• 0046 City of Estevan This is Estevan
  0046 City of Estevan This is Estevan
• 0041 DEEP Since 2018 now we are going to build
  0041 DEEP Since 2018 now we are going to build
• 0032 IWS Summer hiring rock trailer music
• 0022 Grimes winter hiring
• 0021 OSY Rentals S8 Promo
• 0018 IWS Hiring Royal Summer
• 0013 Panther Drilling PO ad 03 top drive rigs
• 0011
• 0006 JK Junior
• 0002 gilliss casing services
  0002 gilliss casing services
• 9002 Pipeline Online 30 sec EBEX
  9002 Pipeline Online 30 sec EBEX
• 9001