Suncor tailings pond transformed
Posted Sep 15, 2010 6:42 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Suncor reports it has taken a big first step toward transforming one of its ugly duckling oilsands tailings ponds into an environmentally-benign swan.
The oilsands giant is to announce next week that it is the first company in Alberta to successfully reclaim a tailings pond to a solid surface.
The 2.2 square kilometre pond has been filled in and landscaped complete with 630,000 newly planted trees, bushes and shrubs.
“Pond 1 is now going to be known as Wapisiw Lookout. That is a Cree word than means swan,” Suncor spokesman Dany Laferriere said Wednesday.
“This has not been done before. We have said that we could do it and this goes to show that reclaiming tailings ponds is possible and we are doing it.”
Suncor says it will continue transforming the site over the next 15 years until it is a mixed forest with wetlands that can support wildlife.
