(Adds Imperial comment)
By Nia Williams
May 4 (Reuters) - Canada's federal environment ministry
on Thursday opened a formal investigation into a months-long
tailings leak at Imperial Oil's Kearl oil sands mine in
northern Alberta, signalling a potential prosecution.
Environment Canada is investigating a suspected
contravention of the Fisheries Act, which prohibits the "deposit
of a deleterious substance into water frequented by fish," or
any place where such substances could enter fish-bearing water.
Tailings, a toxic mining by-product containing water, silt,
residual bitumen and metals, have been seeping from Imperial's
site since last May, angering local Indigenous communities who
hunt and fish on the lands downstream from Canada's oil sands
mines.
The federal government has been carrying out inspections of
the site since it learned of the leak in early February, when
the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) issued an environmental
protection order against Imperial.
Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault told reporters in
Ottawa the decision to move from an inspection to a full
investigation means officers will decide whether charges are
warranted.
"It means the process is underway to hold the company to
account," Guilbeault said.
Imperial, a unit of Exxon Mobil Corp , said in a
statement it is cooperating with Environment Canada and
continues to take actions to prevent potential impacts to
downstream bodies of water.
Testing shows drinking water is safe and there is no
indication of impacts to fish or wildlife, Imperial added.
The company first discovered discolored water on its Kearl
site in May 2022 and informed the AER and some local Indigenous
communities, but failed to update those communities when testing
showed the water contained tailings.
Canada's Tourism Minister Randy Boissonnault, one of only
two Liberals lawmakers in Alberta, said the Kearl leak and poor
communication was "simply unacceptable".
He also criticized the explanations offered by Imperial CEO
Brad Corson, who apologized when he appeared before a
parliamentary committee last month.
"Imperial Oil's CEO did not acquit himself well at
committee, in fact they did themselves no favours," Boissonnault
said. "It's unjust for Indigenous communities that are living
downstream to have questions about their drinking water table
and the health of the natural environment."
(Reporting by Nia Williams
Editing by Chris Reese, Aurora Ellis and Deepa Babington)
Messaging: nia.williams.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))
