Panel approves Jackpine mine expansion, while voicing environmental concern
Posted Jul 10, 2013 12:46 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Even with environmental concern, the provinces energy regulator has approved Shell Canada’s plan to expand their production by 50-per cent in the oilsands region.
The plan will ultimately need federal approval and then the Redford government must ratify the plan.
But, the energy regulator’s decision included 88 recommendations for the governments and 22 conditions for Shell in their expansion of the Jackpine mine in the Fort McMurray area.
Green Peace campaigner, Mike Hudema says it’s important to note that over 50-thousand Canadians and Americans wrote in to voice concern about the project.
“It violates the constitutionally protected rights of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation and other groups in the area. It will threaten the health and destroy 21 kilometres of the Muskeg River and the list of damages that this project will cause goes on and on,” exclaims Hudema.
The regulatory panel is concerned about how Jackpine could affect the environment and how problems would be mitigated.
It says that both the Harper government and the province should create new conservation areas to compensate for the damage it could cause.
