By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Mar. 25 -- The Alberta government presented its first oil sands reclamation certificate to Syncrude Canada Ltd. for converting a 104-hectare area known as Gateway Hill into forest and wetlands 35 km north of Fort McMurray.
Syncrude began planting trees and shrubs in 1983 to create a forest interspersed by several wetlands and a 4.5-km hiking trail. The company is committed to overall sustainability, said Syncrude Pres. and Chief Executive Officer Tom Katinas.
Under Alberta's reclamation standards, companies must remediate and reclaim Alberta's land so it can be productive again. Alberta requires reclaimed land to be able to support a range of activities similar to its previous use.
Alberta Environment Minister Rob Renner said it takes time to confirm a successful reclamation. "Both operators and government want to ensure that the reclamation is successful before a certificate is granted."
Typically, oil sands mining requires the use of land for several decades. The reclamation process occurs throughout a project's life, and reclamation certification occurs when the land has been fully reclaimed.
Overburden material removed during oil sands mining was put on Gateway Hill. By the early 1980s, the area was no longer needed, and Syncrude began replacing topsoil and planting trees and shrubs.
Katinas said Syncrude reclaimed more than 80 additional hectares in 2007 and plans on reclaiming another 100 hectares this year. In 2006 alone, the company reported spending $30.5 million on reclamation activities.
Syncrude is a joint venture operated by Syncrude Canada Ltd. and owned by Canadian Oil Sands Ltd., ConocoPhillips Oilsands Partnership II, Imperial Oil Resources, Mocal Energy Ltd., Murphy Oil Company Ltd., Nexen Oil Sands Partnership, and Petro-Canada Oil & Gas.
