Syncrude Canada,  one of the big oil sands exploitation companies operating in Alberta Canada, may face fines of up to $1 million after up to 500 ducks landed in a toxic "tailings pond" and were left dead or dying.

From the Yahoo! News report:

Environmental groups have already raised concerns about carbon-dioxide emissions, destruction of the boreal forest that is stripped away to get at the oil deposits, and the potential for tailing ponds to contaminate local rivers.

Greenpeace said it was an anonymous call that tipped government regulators to the bird deaths, and it attacked what it described as rampant development of the oil sands.

"This speaks to the inadequacies of the government's ability to monitor even the most basic environmental safeguards put on tar sands development," Greenpeace's Mike Hudema said in a statement.

Apparently the Alberta government has regulation on this kind of thing and may fine the oil company.  That's fine - I guess - but what if the birds didn't die?  What if they survived long enough to fly to... oh, I don't know... a drinking resevoir or a manmade lake where children go swimming?  Pulling oil from oil sands might be profitable, but is it responsible?

It reminds me of the photo series we highlighted last month by Gerd Ludwig where he shared his amazing work in Russia profiling the affects of pursuing industrial growth with no regard for the environment.  Ludwig's photographs show the direct effect of pollution on human life.

This news story was about a few dead ducks.  I would like to see these operations stop before Mr. Ludwig has to make a trip to Canada to document what a mess was made of things in the Great White North.

» Yahoo! News (Canada)