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Oil Sands Environmental Management Bibliography

The Cumulative Environmental Management Association (CEMA)partnered with the Oil Sands Research and Information Network (OSRIN) to create the new Oil Sands Environmental Management Bibliography, which includes documents relevant to the environmental management of oil sands development in Alberta. The majority of the documents focus on the mineable oil sands in the Athabasca deposit, though some documents relate to in-situ developments. This bibliography was last updated in November 2014.

Use of three-dimensional topography as a tool for closure integration at Syncrude Canada Ltd.'s Mildred Lake and Aurora North leases

Authors Hachey, L. M., & Lanoue A. V.
Year of Publication: 2011

Citation:
Hachey, L. M., & Lanoue A. V. (2011).  Use of three-dimensional topography as a tool for closure integration at Syncrude Canada Ltd.'s Mildred Lake and Aurora North leases. 1,
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Use of toxicity tests in studies of oil sands tailings water detoxification

Authors Boerger, H., MacKinnon M., & Aleksiuk M.
Year of Publication: 1986

Citation:
Boerger, H., MacKinnon M., & Aleksiuk M. (1986).  Use of toxicity tests in studies of oil sands tailings water detoxification. 20 pages .
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Use of toxicity tests in studies of oil sands tailings water detoxification

Authors Boerger, H., MacKinnon M., & Aleksiuk M.
Year of Publication: 1986

Citation:
Boerger, H., MacKinnon M., & Aleksiuk M. (1986).  Use of toxicity tests in studies of oil sands tailings water detoxification.
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Use of traditional environmental knowledge in natural resource plans within North America with emphasis on Canada and options for incorporating TEK into CEMA's work

Authors Stevenson, M., Hochstein B., & Bankes N.
Year of Publication: 2003

Abstract:
The report describes a project undertaken to address the following tasks: 1) Provide background on TEK and how it is used, 2) Provide case studies on TEK use in Canada and North America; 3) Provide recommendations for incorporating TEK into CEMA's Work.

Citation:
Stevenson, M., Hochstein B., & Bankes N. (2003).  Use of traditional environmental knowledge in natural resource plans within North America with emphasis on Canada and options for incorporating TEK into CEMA's work. 113 pages . Abstract
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Use of woody debris as an amendment for reclamation after oil sands mining

Authors Brown, R. L.
Year of Publication: 2010

Abstract:
This research determined if woody debris amendments facilitate land reclamation after oil sands mining. Specifically, it assessed if woody debris affects vegetation cover and richness, woody species survival and abundance, soil nutrients, temperature and water, microbial biomass carbon and mycorrhizal biomass. A four year old site and a two year old site were used to compare treatments with and without woody debris. Woody debris did not affect initial vegetation emergence, but increased species richness and decreased introduced species cover. After winter assessments found woody debris cover positively associated with vegetation cover. More saplings planted on woody debris treatments survived and woody debris cover was positively associated with woody plant abundance. Woody debris treatments had lower soil nitrogen and higher phosphorus, suggesting nitrogen immobilization and leachate high in phosphorus. Soil under woody debris had a lower temperature range and higher soil volumetric water content. No differences were found in microbial parameters.

Citation:
Brown, R. L. (2010).  Use of woody debris as an amendment for reclamation after oil sands mining. 139 pages . Abstract
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Using "omics" approaches to study anaerobic hydrocarbon biodegradation by microbes indigenous to oil sands tailings ponds

Authors Tan, B. - F.
Year of Publication: 2014

Abstract:
In oil sands tailings ponds, methanogenesis is driven in part by the degradation of hydrocarbons in residual solvents used as a diluent during bitumen extraction, such as naphtha. Alkanes constitute a large proportion of these unrecovered hydrocarbons in mature fine tailings (MFT). Methanogenic degradation of alkanes has been poorly described in the literature. Fumarate addition, widely reported for activation of alkanes and monoaromatic compounds under sulfate- and nitrate-reducing conditions, has not been demonstrated conclusively for alkane degradation under methanogenic conditions because signature metabolites and key organisms have not been detected and/or isolated. In order to understand methanogenic alkane degradation by microorganisms indigenous to oil sands tailings ponds, a model alkane-degrading culture (SCADC) was established using MFT obtained from Mildred Lake Settling Basin (MLSB) tailings pond. SCADC degraded many lower molecular weight alkanes, represented by n-C 6 -C 10, 2-methylpentane and methylcyclopentane during year-long methanogenic incubation, but expected fumarate addition products were only detected for 2-methylpentane and methylcyclopentane. Nucleic acids isolated from SCADC were subjected to metagenomic and metatranscriptomic analysis using Illumina Hi-Seq. Metagenomic binning using multiple approaches recovered several partial genomes, including novel syntrophic Desulfotomaculum and Smithella spp. that are genetically capable of fumarate addition, which was previously unknown. Metatranscriptomic analysis further confirmed the high expression of genes encoding enzymes for alkane addition to fumarate byDesulfotomaculum but not Smithella during active methanogenesis, indicating the importance of Firmicutes in fumarate activation of low molecular weight alkanes. Data mining of metagenomes of MLSB and hydrocarbon-impacted environments recovered novel fumarate addition genes undescribed previously, indicating the overall ubiquitous nature of these genes in anoxic environments. Comparative metagenomic analysis of SCADC to two other metagenomes of methanogenic toluene- and naphtha-degrading cultures, in addition to physiological studies, suggests that fumarate addition may be the bottleneck reaction in these three cultures. The cultures have the genetic capability of degrading structurally diverse hydrocarbons and share highly conserved and streamlined functions for anaerobic respiration and methanogenesis, unlike in situ environments impacted by hydrocarbons, which are highly variable in their functional capabilities. This observation provides future prospects for development of commercial cultures for bioremediation and biomethanization.

Citation:
Tan, B. - F. (2014).  Using "omics" approaches to study anaerobic hydrocarbon biodegradation by microbes indigenous to oil sands tailings ponds. Abstract
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Using biofilms and grazing chironomids (Diptera : Chironomidae) to determine primary production nitrogen stable isotopic baseline and enrichment within wetlands differing in anthropogenic stressors and located in the Athabasca oil sands region of Alberta

Authors Frederick, K., Wytrykush C. M., & Ciborowski J. J.
Year of Publication: 2009

Citation:
Frederick, K., Wytrykush C. M., & Ciborowski J. J. (2009).  Using biofilms and grazing chironomids (Diptera : Chironomidae) to determine primary production nitrogen stable isotopic baseline and enrichment within wetlands differing in anthropogenic stressors and located in the Athabasca oil sands region of Alberta. 2 pages .
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Using earth observation technologies to monitor land change from oil sands development activities

Authors Gibbons, W., McNamee P. J., Syed A., & Dick W.
Year of Publication: 2007

Citation:
Gibbons, W., McNamee P. J., Syed A., & Dick W. (2007).  Using earth observation technologies to monitor land change from oil sands development activities. 81 pages .
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Using gas flux to estimate biological and chemical sediment oxygen demand in oil sands-affected wetlands

Authors Gardner Costa, J., Slama C., & Ciborowski J. J.
Year of Publication: 2011

Abstract:
We tested whether carbon loss in the form of sediment‐associated microbial respiration differed between oil sands process‐affected (OSPM) and reference wetlands. The constituents of OSPM wetlands (high salinity, conductivity and naphthenic acid concentrations) were expected to strain microbial communities and alter gas (methane and carbon dioxide) flux rates as well as sediment oxygen consumption compared to fresher, reference wetland sites. Studying 4 OSPM and 4 reference wetlands over the summers of 2009 and 2010, we found OSPM wetlands released less gas (~10 x) (methane) than reference wetlands. In 2009 we measured sediment oxygen demands (SOD) and used gas flux estimates of carbon dioxide to estimate biologically sediment oxygen consumption (BSOD). Chemical sediment oxygen demand (CSOD) was estimated by subtracting BSOD from total SOD. We found SOD rates were 2 x higher in OSPM wetlands than reference; CSOD was greater than biologically consumed oxygen for both wetland classes (~90% of total SOD). OSPM wetlands released less than reference wetlands, suggesting less microbial activity in OSPM wetlands; however, more oxygen is consumed (likely chemical oxidation) in OSPM than in reference wetlands. Carbon accrual is a necessary condition to reclaiming boreal wetlands in the Alberta Athabasca region. Less microbial activity may promote carbon accumulation (reduced respiration = less carbon loss) within OSPM wetlands but high chemical oxygen consumption may limit benthos respiration and reduce organic inputs into a wetland’s sediment organic layer.

Citation:
Gardner Costa, J., Slama C., & Ciborowski J. J. (2011).  Using gas flux to estimate biological and chemical sediment oxygen demand in oil sands-affected wetlands. Abstract
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Using infrastructure optimization to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from oil sands extraction and processing

Authors Middleton, R. S., & Brandt A. R.
Year of Publication: 2013

Abstract:
The Alberta oil sands are a significant source of oil production and greenhouse gas emissions, and their importance will grow as the region is poised for decades of growth. We present an integrated framework that simultaneously considers economic and engineering decisions for the capture, transport, and storage of oil sands CO2 emissions. The model optimizes CO2 management infrastructure at a variety of carbon prices for the oil sands industry. Our study reveals several key findings. We find that the oil sands industry lends itself well to development of CO2 trunk lines due to geographic coincidence of sources and sinks. This reduces the relative importance of transport costs compared to nonintegrated transport systems. Also, the amount of managed oil sands CO2 emissions, and therefore the CCS infrastructure, is very sensitive to the carbon price; significant capture and storage occurs only above 110$/tonne CO2 in our simulations. Deployment of infrastructure is also sensitive to CO2 capture decisions and technology, particularly the fraction of capturable CO2 from oil sands upgrading and steam generation facilities. The framework will help stakeholders and policy makers understand how CCS infrastructure, including an extensive pipeline system, can be safely and cost-effectively deployed.

Citation:
Middleton, R. S., & Brandt A. R. (2013).  Using infrastructure optimization to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from oil sands extraction and processing. 47(3), 9 pages . Abstract
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Using lichens as bioindicators of air pollution deposition near remote mining operations

Authors Berryman, S., Straker J., & Straker D.
Year of Publication: 2009

Abstract:
Lichens are non-vascular plants that serve as excellent bioindicators of air pollutant deposition, as they absorb nutrients directly from the atmosphere, while also readily accumulating atmospheric contaminants. We present two studies where lichens were used as bioindicators near remote mining operations. First, a new research program was implemented in 2008 to map the characteristics of air pollutant deposition using epiphytic lichens as bioindicators in the Athabasca Oil Sands region of northeastern Alberta, Canada. Lichen elemental content will inform patterns of nitrogen and sulphur deposition in the region and a sub-set of lichen samples will be analyzed for trace metals to identify specific pollutant sources that contribute to elemental enrichment in lichen. Second, terrestrial lichens were used to evaluate off-site airborne transport of metals from the Anvil Range open-pit lead-zinc mine in south-central Yukon, Canada. This study indicated elevated lead and zinc concentrations in lichens to 20⁺ km from the mine site and included components to characterize timing and sources of dust transport. Results from these studies can be used to develop spatial predictive models of deposition patterns within the study area which provide an understanding of environmental impacts from mining operations and can improve mitigation of these impacts. Keywords: oil sands, metals, nitrogen, sulphur, air quality, fugitive dust

Citation:
Berryman, S., Straker J., & Straker D. (2009).  Using lichens as bioindicators of air pollution deposition near remote mining operations. Abstract
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Using molten salt nuclear reactors in the oil sands

Authors Leblanc, D., & Popoff C.
Year of Publication: 2012

Abstract:
A significant challenge facing the thermal heavy oil industry in Canada is supplying energy for the purpose of steam generation for use in a variety of in-situ heavy oil production schemes. Typically natural gas is combusted on site to fuel steam generation units which creates two problems. First, it exposes the project to economic risk through the highly variable nature of natural gas cost, which is significant given the large volume of fuel that will be consumed over the life of the project. Second, natural gas combustion is the primary source of greenhouse gas emissions for an in-situ project which puts growth in this industry sector at odds with carbon emission mandates set by the Canadian Government, and also creates negative sentiment towards ongoing development of the resource. Many attempts have been made in the past to show how nuclear power (both with established and pre-commercial technologies) may be used to supply the energy demand created by the growth of development in the oil sands regions, with assessments being carried out for mining, steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD), upgrading, and integrated operations. The proposed configurations fail in one or more critical areas such as improper steam conditions at the plant outlet, excessively high capital requirements, or a mismatch in the scale of operations. The Molten Salt Reactor (MSR) is a Generation IV fission nuclear reactor that was first built and operated in the 1960s and was demonstrated to be a practical, safe and economically viable tool for electricity generation. It is the purpose of this paper to introduce the basic concepts of the MSR to the thermal heavy oil industry, and to demonstrate the viability of integrating MSR with thermal heavy oil production through the analysis of a conceptual SAGD commercial phase. It is shown that the heat requirements of a typical SAGD commercial phase may be met with a total thermal power output of 375 MWth, and that by offsetting the costs of combusting natural gas (fuel and carbon compliance costs) a Molten Salt Reactor appears to be economically viable when natural gas is available at a price of 1.09 -2.32 C$/mcf. Therefore the MSR represents a potential path forward for permanently inexpensive steam and SAGD operations that do not emit greenhouse gases.

Citation:
Leblanc, D., & Popoff C. (2012).  Using molten salt nuclear reactors in the oil sands. 20 pages . Abstract
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Using naphthenic acids and poly aromatic hydrocarbons for fingerprinting environmental impacts of oil sands processing

Authors Woudneh, M. B., Benskin J. P., Hamilton C., Wang G., Krogh E., Gill C., et al.
Year of Publication: 2013

Citation:
Woudneh, M. B., Benskin J. P., Hamilton C., Wang G., Krogh E., Gill C., et al. (2013).  Using naphthenic acids and poly aromatic hydrocarbons for fingerprinting environmental impacts of oil sands processing. 2 pages .
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Using PLFA to constrain microbial distribution related to S-cycling in oil-sands composite tailings during reclamation

Authors Ngonadi, N.
Year of Publication: 2012

Abstract:
Microorganisms are the most abundant living things on the planet and they drive many important environmental processes. They can do this by coupling reduction – oxidation (redox) reactions. In such reactions, the oxidation of reduced organic matter is coupled with the reduction of another compound, which serves as the electron acceptor. All microbes contain lipids in their cells; phospholipids are the main components of the cell membrane where they make up a consistent component of cell mass. Therefore, in situations where direct cell count is unrealistic, lipid analysis can be used to provide information on microbial communities. Because they hydrolyze shortly after cell death, PLFAs indicate only viable cell biomass, and PLFA analysis provides valuable insight on cell density distribution across a site. One application of PLFA analysis is within this thesis, where it was used to investigate the microbial community at Mildred Lake, Syncrude’s primary tailings settling basin. At Mildred Lake, Syncrude is constructing a freshwater fen over the deposited composite tailings (CT) as part of their reclamation process. Understanding the microbial biogeochemical cycling associated with these reclamation activities is an important component for management decisions affecting the site and thus, inform future reclamation activities. PLFA analysis on samples from the site showed variable concentrations equivalent to estimated cell densities on the order of 107 decreasing to 106 in the CT. These cell density ranges are expected for oligotrophic systems. Phospholipids can also be biomarkers if they are indicative of a specific group of microbes. The study at Mildred Lake identified biomarkers for sulfate reducing bacteria (SRBs). The presence of these biomarkers provided a basis for the hypothesis that sulfide detected at the site was potentially from SRBs. This thesis provides information on the fundamental concepts of lipids and the application of lipid analysis on the environmental samples from the Mildred Lake site to understand its microbial community and cycling of sulfur to prevent potential environmental issues associated with the generation of sulfide.

Citation:
Ngonadi, N. (2012).  Using PLFA to constrain microbial distribution related to S-cycling in oil-sands composite tailings during reclamation. 60 pages . Abstract
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Using reproductive endpoints in small forage fish species to evaluate the effects of Athabasca oil sands activities

Authors Tetreault, G. R., McMaster M. E., Dixon G. D., & Parrott J. L.
Year of Publication: 2003

Abstract:
The main objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of naturally occurring oil sands-related compounds (OSRC) on reproductive function in fish in order to assess the impacts of anthropogenic point-source inputs. The health of slimy sculpin (Cottus cognatus) and pearl dace (Semotilus margarita) collected from the Alberta Athabasca Oil Sands (Canada) watershed were examined. Two rivers were selected for study: the Steepbank and the Ells. These rivers originate outside the oil sands formation, where fish are unexposed (Ref), exposed to naturally occurring oil sands-related compounds (Nat), or exposed to naturally occurring compounds as well as adjacent to surface mining activity (Dev). Assessment endpoints included gonadosomatic indices (GSI), fecundity, and in vitro gonadal steroid production. In vitro gonadal incubations demonstrated lower levels of steroid production at sites along the Steepbank River within the oil sands deposit. Hepatic 7-ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activity, an indicator of exposure to OSRC, was elevated twofold at the site with natural compounds and up to 10-fold at the site adjacent to development compared to EROD activity in fish from the reference site. Fish collected in the Ells River had a threefold induction in EROD activity but no significant reduction in steroid production when compared to reference fish. No consistent alterations in gonadal development were seen in fish collected from sites within the oil sands deposit. This research in the Athabasca River basin provides baseline information of the health of fish populations within the oil sands deposit prior to further development in the area.

Citation:
Tetreault, G. R., McMaster M. E., Dixon G. D., & Parrott J. L. (2003).  Using reproductive endpoints in small forage fish species to evaluate the effects of Athabasca oil sands activities. 22(11), 7 pages . Abstract
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Using stable carbon isotopes to monitor bacterial degradation of naphthenic acids and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

Authors Videla, P. P., Farwell A. J., Butler B. J., Nero V., & Dixon D. G.
Year of Publication: 2004

Citation:
Videla, P. P., Farwell A. J., Butler B. J., Nero V., & Dixon D. G. (2004).  Using stable carbon isotopes to monitor bacterial degradation of naphthenic acids and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. 2 pages .
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Using stable isotopes to trace the bacterial degradation of naphthenic acids

Authors Videla, P. P., Farwell A. J., Butler B. J., & Dixon D. G.
Year of Publication: 2005

Citation:
Videla, P. P., Farwell A. J., Butler B. J., & Dixon D. G. (2005).  Using stable isotopes to trace the bacterial degradation of naphthenic acids. 39 pages .
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Using sustainable development indicators (SDIs) for sustainability assessment of surface mining operations in the oil sands projects: Applicability usefulness and costs

Authors Poveda, C. A., & Lipsett M. G.
Year of Publication: 2013

Abstract:
Sustainable development indicators (SDIs) can be found within currentlyexisting approaches, strategies, models, appraisals, and methodologies for environmental and sustainability assessment. Conceptually, the design and implementation of SDIs brings together different stakeholders towards finding the balance among economic, social, and environmental development; however, questions surround SDIs for the assessment of sustainability of projects (e.g. surface mining operations) or industries (e.g. oil and gas) for which the development of SDIs still is in its infancy: (1) Do the SDIs properly align theory with practice?; (2) Do the SDIs meet their intent?; and (3) Can the stakeholders and project proponents afford the implementation of SDIs? Individual efforts have been made to establish a set of SDIs by companies developing projects; and regulatory systems (in some way predecessors of SDIs) require certain levels of investment to meet a minimum level of performance, particularly on environmental grounds. But large industrial projects (such as oil sands projects, which include surface mining operations) do not have a comprehensive set of SDIs to benchmark sustainable performance and/or measure sustainable development. Questions remain regarding the rate at which extractive industry companies align with more sustainable practices, whether it is the applicability of SDIs, their degree of usefulness, or the costs of development and implementation of SDIs, or other factors. The present work analyzes the development and implementation of SDIs in surface mining operations for oil sands projects, highlights the benefits of using SDIs, proposes an alternative framework for SDI in the Canadian oil sands industry, and offers

Citation:
Poveda, C. A., & Lipsett M. G. (2013).  Using sustainable development indicators (SDIs) for sustainability assessment of surface mining operations in the oil sands projects: Applicability usefulness and costs. 13 pages . Abstract
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Utilizing North American Regional Reanalysis for modeling soil moisture and evapotranspiration in reconstructed watersheds

Authors Keshta, N., & Elshorbagy A.
Year of Publication: 2011

Abstract:
Oil sands development in Canada presents overwhelming challenges for boreal forest conservation and reclamation due to the disturbance of watershed function. Modeling hydrological processes for reclaimed landscapes is essential for assessing the performance of different reclamation strategies and their evolution over time, and requires a reliable continuous source of input data. This study evaluated the utility of precipitation and temperature data from the North American Regional Reanalysis (NARR) for the hydrological modeling of two reconstructed sites located north of Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada. NARR precipitation and air temperature data were in good agreement with the observed onsite datasets. A generic system dynamics watershed (GSDW) model was initially calibrated using the onsite meteorological data, resulting in simulated soil moisture values that slightly overestimated observed values. The model was re-calibrated using the NARR temperature and precipitation data as inputs while the remaining data (e.g., net radiation, wind speed, and relative humidity) were obtained from the weather station. The re-calibrated model was a good alternative to onsite weather station data for simulating soil moisture patterns and evapotranspiration fluxes, particularly in cases of data scarcity. The re-calibrated model was used along with the NARR long term dataset (1979–2006) to evaluate the current/future hydrological performance of existing reconstructed watersheds with respect to soil moisture deficit using a probabilistic framework, and the results compared with long term performance estimates using the onsite-calibrated GSDW model. The study showed overall average correlation coefficients of 0.96 and 0.64 between the NARR and the onsite observed datasets for temperature and precipitation, respectively, and average root mean squared error (RMSE) values of 4.2 °C and 2.3 mm for the same datasets for the period of 2000–2006. The current study demonstrates and validates the application of NARR data to hydrological modeling for future reclaimed sites in the same region. Adopting NARR data for the assessment of the long term hydrological performance of reconstructed watersheds can inform decision making with respect to the design of reconstructed soil covers.

Citation:
Keshta, N., & Elshorbagy A. (2011).  Utilizing North American Regional Reanalysis for modeling soil moisture and evapotranspiration in reconstructed watersheds. 36, 10 pages . Abstract
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Validation of a passive air sampling device for measuring ambient VOCs at subzero temperatures

Authors Gagner, R. V. J.
Year of Publication: 1996

Citation:
Gagner, R. V. J. (1996).  Validation of a passive air sampling device for measuring ambient VOCs at subzero temperatures. 196 pages .
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Validation of immunotoxicology techniques in passerine chicks exposed to oil sands tailings water

Authors Smits, J. E., & Williams T. D.
Year of Publication: 1999

Abstract:
Avian species, through their trophic relationships, may represent ideal indicators for assessing environmental health. In this study several assays of immune function in young passerines are validated and compared. From 6 to 10 days of age, zebra finch nestlings (Taeniopygia guttata) were given daily oral doses of Oil Sands tailings water (CT), an immunosuppressant dexamethasone, or phosphate-buffered saline. At 9-10 days of age, a phytohemagglutinin (PHA) skin test of immune function was conducted; at 11 days of age, five chicks from each group were euthanized for gross and histopathologic examination of immune system organs. The remaining birds were vaccinated with sheep red blood cells (srbc) to evaluate antibody-mediated immunity. The main findings were that in 10-day-old nestlings, T lymphocytes were sensitive to PHA stimulation, while B lymphocytes were unable to respond to srbc; that hematocrit was approximately 30% lower than in mature birds; that precision of leucocrit determination was heavily technique-dependent; that endogenous steroids increased the total leucocrit, while exogenous steroids increased heterophil and decreased lymphocyte counts, thus increasing H:L; that dexamethasone exposure temporarily reduced growth rate; that CT exposure stimulated germinal cell development in the bursa of Fabricius; and that dexamethazone and CT exposure were associated with decreased splenic white pulp formation.

Citation:
Smits, J. E., & Williams T. D. (1999).  Validation of immunotoxicology techniques in passerine chicks exposed to oil sands tailings water. 44(1), 7 pages . Abstract
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Validation procedures for habitat models in the oil sands region

Authors Muir, J. E., d'Entremont M., Gatten J., Ainsworth L., & Robichaud D.
Year of Publication: 2012

Citation:
Muir, J. E., d'Entremont M., Gatten J., Ainsworth L., & Robichaud D. (2012).  Validation procedures for habitat models in the oil sands region. 112 pages .
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Validation studies of the CRSTER model in application to the AOSERP study area

Authors Bagg, D. L.
Year of Publication: 1979

Abstract:
Methods to improve air quality emission and meteorological model input data records and validation techniques used to verify calculated annual, monthly, and daily calculations at ground level for the CRSTER model are described. Due to the limited nature of verification data and unique polar co-ordinate receptor grid network, a point-spatial validation approach, involving calculations along the most important windrose axial directions relative to the GCOS source, is advanced in annual time studies covering 1975 and 1976. Selected Syncrude, Shell Hartley Creek, and GCOS monitor site observations are also utilized in the two studies on an annual, monthly and daily basis for statistical comparison with model results on a point-spatial verification basis only. As .in the axial validation, this statistical verification excluded objective analysis smoothing of calculated concentrations. Results are related to similar studies in a discussion of CRSTER's modelling capabilities. Environmental impact analyses for both time studies, including levels of confidence assigned to concentration estimates are described. A guide for future use of current and future versions of the model in the Oil Sands study area is advanced.

Citation:
Bagg, D. L. (1979).  Validation studies of the CRSTER model in application to the AOSERP study area. 43 pages . Abstract
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Vanadium recovery from oil sands fly ash

Authors Holloway, P. C.
Year of Publication: 2003

Abstract:
The fly ash produced during the upgrading of the Alberta oil sands contains between 2.0 and 3.5 wt% vanadium, and represents a significant vanadium resource (3.6 million kilograms per year or 3.5% of total world vanadium production). Research was performed to move vanadium recovery from the oil sands fly ash towardscommercialization. Salt roasting tests on Suncor ash samples collected over a 25 year period were performed to determine the effects of time,temperature, and roasting additions on vanadium recovery and the optimum salt roasting conditions for the Suncor ash. Other roasting reagents, and lixiviants, were also tested to try to improve the vanadium extractions achieved with salt roasting. Syncrude ash was treated under similar salt roasting and leaching conditions to quantify the differences between ash formation in Suncor and Syncrude's coking processes, and to optimize the roasting and leaching conditions for the Syncrude ash. Several solution purification and vanadium precipitation flowsheets were tested to determine the feasibility of producing high purity vanadium from water leach solutions. Finally, characterization of the fly ash, for the first time, allowed a good understanding of the mineralogy of the oil sands fly ash and the mechanism behind the salt roasting of the fly ash to be attained.

Citation:
Holloway, P. C. (2003).  Vanadium recovery from oil sands fly ash. 205 pages . Abstract
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Variation in immune function body condition and feather corticosterone in nestling tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) on reclaimed wetlands in the Athabasca oil sands Alberta, Canada

Authors Harms, J. N., Fairhurst G. D., Bortolotti G. R., & Smits J. E. G.
Year of Publication: 2010

Abstract:
In the Athabasca oil sands region of northern Alberta, mining companies are evaluating reclamation using constructed wetlands for integration of tailings. From May to July 2008, reproductive performance of 40 breeding pairs of tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor), plus growth and survival of nestlings, was measured on three reclaimed wetlands on two oil sands leases. A subset of nestlings was examined for i) feather corticosterone levels, ii) delayed-type hypersensitivity response, and iii) innate immune function. Nestlings on one of two wetlands created with oil sands process affected material (OSPM) were heavier and had greater wing-lengths, and mounted a stronger delayed-type hypersensitivity response compared those on the reference wetland. Corticosterone was significantly higher in male nestlings on one of two OSPM-containing wetland compared to the reference wetland. Body condition of 12-day-old female nestlings was inversely related to feather corticosterone. Under ideal weather conditions, reclaimed wetlands can support healthy populations of aerially-insectivorous birds.

Citation:
Harms, J. N., Fairhurst G. D., Bortolotti G. R., & Smits J. E. G. (2010).  Variation in immune function body condition and feather corticosterone in nestling tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) on reclaimed wetlands in the Athabasca oil sands Alberta, Canada. 158, 7 pages . Abstract
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