Edmonton – The Alberta Liberals have obtained a report indicating oil and grease leaked into the Athabasca River almost a year ago from a wastewater pond at Suncor’s oilsands site near Fort McMurray.

This contradicts Environment Minister Rob Renner’s claims there have been no leaks from oilsands operations into the river.

David Swann, Alberta Liberal Shadow Minister of Environment, says Suncor has acknowledged wastewater contaminated with oil and grease from its Millenium API Upgrader was released Sept. 8, 2007, into the Athabasca River. Sources say the leak involved about one-million liltres, the same volume as an Olympic-size swimming pool.

The report, a PowerPoint presentation by Suncor officials earlier this month to residents of Fort Chipewyan, says “oil and grease from Pond D moved through the wastewater pond system … and then were discharged into the Athabasca River,” causing an oil sheen on the water. It says Alberta Environment officials were at the meeting.

It notes that although the spill occurred in September 2007, residents weren’t told about it until May 6, 2008.

“Communities were not notified that their drinking water had been contaminated with oil and grease until eight months later,” says Swann. “I would like to know why residents – and the general public – were not informed of this potential health threat immediately.”

The report reveals contaminated effluent was also released into the river in 2003.

Meanwhile, in light of a new federal-provincial investigation, Dave Taylor, Alberta Liberal Shadow Health Minister, is asking why the province has in the past denied a link between oilsands development and perceived high cancer rates downstream.

“Concerns of the residents were not taken seriously,” he says. “Only now, amid protests on the steps of the Legislature, does the government realize this is not a problem they can continue to brush under the carpet.”

David Swan and Dave Taylor will be available for comment at 2:30 p.m. in the Legislature Rotunda.

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For more information contact:

Larry Johnsrude

Director of Communciations

(780) 934-4339

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