Report warns of water damage due to oilsands, Oilsands industry could have affected tables by Karen Kleiss, August 29, 2012, Edmonton Journal
The Cumulative Environmental Management Association released a 37-page report Tuesday that explains groundwater in the region, and warns that lower water levels and poor quality could have “farreaching consequences.” “The cumulative effects of mining and in situ operations on regional groundwater are not fully understood, so more data are needed … to understand the quality and supply status of groundwater,” the report says. Changes in groundwater “may be a concern for fish and fish habitat, wildlife, and water supply needs for a range of local uses,” the report says, adding that “the potential effects of lower water levels and poor water health on the harvest of traditional resources could have far-reaching consequences on the health, culture, and social and economic well-being of First Nations and Metis communities.” … Dustin Shauer is the co-chair of CEMA’s groundwater working group and a hydrogeologist at Alberta Sustainable Resource Development. …
“Just getting the data is the most important, the first step,” [Emphasis added]