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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.

Quantification of 1986 winter pollutant deposition in the Alberta oil sands area

Authors Olson, R., Hastings R., & Ellis R.
Year of Publication: 1987

Abstract:
The chemical characteristics of snow in the Oil Sands area of northeastern Alberta have been monitored periodically since 1976. The accumulation of pollutants in the snowpack can be an effective indicator of total winter deposition as the snowpack preserves a continuous record of materials accumulated from the atmosphere. The current study encompasses two main objectives. The first comprises the collection of snow samples from 51 sites in the Oil Sands area, their subsequent chemical analyses, a description of the resultant deposition patterns, and spatial variations of pollutant loadings, and a meteorological history of the snowpack. The second objective is to provide site documentation and evaluations of the locations where snow has been collected during the present study. The snow survey was conducted between 4 and 8 February 1986, inclusive. In addition to snow sampling, site documentation was compiled and photographs of the sites' four cardinal directions and oblique aerials were taken. The overall pattern among the various chemical constituents illustrates a strong tendency for the highest ion concentrations to be near the two major oil sands plants and north-south, along the Athabasca River Valley. Fallout from the two plants and the occurrence of a low-level inversion in the river valley, which inhibits ventilation, generally account for these areal patterns. The lowest concentrations are usually situated at sites removed from the river and the oil sands plants. There are few exceptions to these patterns, except for odd stations that appear to have anomalously high or low values for the particular constituents. Without duplicates or replicates nothing can be conclusively determined about these anomalies. There is a wide range in the quality of the snow sampling sites in terms of meeting the long-range goals of the network. As such, there should be more emphasis on quality control and hypotheses testing in terms of Alberta Environment's objectives for future snow surveys.

Citation:
Olson, R., Hastings R., & Ellis R. (1987).  Quantification of 1986 winter pollutant deposition in the Alberta oil sands area. 176 pages . Abstract
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Quantification of anthropogenic and natural changes in oil sands mining infrastructure land based on RapidEye and SPOT5

Authors Zhang, Y., Guindon B., Lantz N., Shipman T., Chao D., & Raymond D.
Year of Publication: 2014

Abstract:
Natural resources development, spanning exploration, production and transportation activities, alters local land surface at various spatial scales. Quantification of these anthropogenic changes, both permanent and reversible, is needed for compliance assessment and for development of effective sustainable management strategies. Multi-spectral high resolution imagery data from SPOT5 and RapidEye were used for extraction and quantification of the anthropogenic and natural changes for a case study of Alberta bitumen (oil sands) mining located in the Western Boreal Plains near Fort McMurray, Canada. Two test sites representative of the major Alberta bitumen production extraction processes, open pit and in situ extraction, were selected. A hybrid change detection approach, combining pixel- and object-based target detection and extraction, is proposed based on Change Vector Analysis (CVA). The extraction results indicate that the changed infrastructure landscapes of these two sites have different footprints linked with their differing oil sands production processes. Pixel- and object-based accuracy assessments have been applied for validation of the change detection results. For manmade disturbances, except for those fine linear features such as the seismic lines, accuracies of about 80% have been achieved at the pixel level while, at the object level, these rise to 90–95%. Since many disturbance features are transient, a new landscape index, entitled the Re-growth Index, has been formulated at single object level specifically to monitor restoration of these features to their natural state. It is found that the temporal behaviour of the Re-growth Index in an individual patch varies depending on the type of natural land cover. In addition, the Re-growth Index is also useful for assessing the detectability of disturbed sites.

Citation:
Zhang, Y., Guindon B., Lantz N., Shipman T., Chao D., & Raymond D. (2014).  Quantification of anthropogenic and natural changes in oil sands mining infrastructure land based on RapidEye and SPOT5. 29, 12 pages . Abstract
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Quantification of branch dwelling lichens for the detection of air pollution impact

Authors Addison, P. A.
Year of Publication: 1984

Abstract:
In the Athabasca Oil Sands area of Alberta, a study was carried out to test a lichen community transplant technique and to determine the influence of oil sands extraction and processing emissions on lichen cover of transplanted communities. Measurement errors of a photographic technique for the determination of lichen cover were dependent upon lichen species but were not correlated to lichen cover. When lichen covers were small therefore, relative errors were very large. Changes in cover of naturally occurring lichen communities on black spruce branches were not significant over a four-year period. Lichen communities transplanted under jack pine and white spruce trees had cover changes with time not different from naturally occurring communities even over a period of years. Significant (P<0.001) cover reductions of some lichen groups occurred on transplanted branches under white spruce within 8–3 km of a pollution source. Evernia, Cetraria, and Bryoria groups were reduced whereas Hypogymnia showed no response over a 3 year measurement period. Reductions in lichen cover were greater than the demonstrated precision of the technique.

Citation:
Addison, P. A. (1984).  Quantification of branch dwelling lichens for the detection of air pollution impact. 16(3), 7 pages . Abstract
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Quantification of changes in oil sands mining infrastructure land based on RapidEye and SPOT5

Authors Zhang, Y., Lantz N., Guindon B., Shipman T., Chao D., & Raymond D.
Year of Publication: 2013

Abstract:
Natural resources development, spanning exploration, production and transportation activities, alters local land surface at various spatial scales. Quantification of these anthropogenic changes, both permanent and reversible, is needed for compliance assessment and for development of effective sustainable management strategies. Multi-spectral high resolution imagery data from SPOT5 and RapidEye were used for extraction and quantification of the anthropogenic and natural changes for a case study of Alberta bitumen (oil sands) mining located near Fort McMurray, Canada. Two test sites representative of the major Alberta bitumen production extraction processes, open pit and in-situ extraction, were selected. A hybrid change detection approach, combining pixel- and object-based target detection and extraction, is proposed based on Change Vector Analysis (CVA). The extraction results indicate that the changed infrastructure landscapes of these two sites have different footprints linked with their differing oil sands production processes. Pixeland object-based accuracy assessments have been applied for validation of the change detection results. For manmade disturbances, other than fine linear features such as the seismic lines, accuracies of about 80% have been achieved at the pixel level while, at the object level, these rise to 90-95%. Since many disturbance features are transient, the land surface changes by re-growth of vegetation and the capability for natural restoration on the mining sites have been assessed.

Citation:
Zhang, Y., Lantz N., Guindon B., Shipman T., Chao D., & Raymond D. (2013).  Quantification of changes in oil sands mining infrastructure land based on RapidEye and SPOT5. Abstract
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Quantifying a stress gradient: An objective approach to variable selection standardization and weighting in ecosystem assessment

Authors Rooney, R. C., & Bayley S. E.
Year of Publication: 2010

Abstract:
Quantifying relative habitat quality is an important means of ecosystem assessment, and an essential step in the development and validation of indices of biotic integrity (IBI). Variables included in multi-metric IBIs are selected on the basis of their correlation with a human disturbance gradient, and the IBI is tested by examining correlation between IBI scores and rankings on the human disturbance gradient for an independent suite of sites. We present an objective approach to develop a disturbance gradient that ranks sites based on local-level measurements of physical and chemical stress; however, it could equally be applied to GIS-derived data. We measured 52 variables at three types of wetland in Alberta: reference wetlands, oil sands reclamation wetlands exposed to mine tailings, and reclamation wetlands free from tailings contamination. We used the data's correlation structure to select a sub-set of variables that minimized redundancy while retaining sensitivity and interpretability. The optimal sub-set included eight variables: chloride, cation and nitrogen content of water; water and oil content of sediment; water depth and amplitude and Secchi depth/total depth. We combined these eight environmental variables using different combinations of standardization (conversion to a common unit) and weighting schemes to produce six multi-metric stress indices. We evaluated the stress indices on their ability to discriminate among our three wetland types. The indices differed in their sensitivity to stress. Standardization had greater influence on index score than weighting. While all stress indices detected a difference among the three wetland types, only two were able to discriminate between the two classes of reclamation wetlands, both of which used percentile binning to standardize variables. The optimal stress index was standardized by percentile binning and weighted such that water quality, sediment chemistry, physical structure, and the level of tailings contamination were weighted equally. The approach we developed is repeatable and produced a sensitive index of wetland condition that is easily interpreted and relies minimally on best professional judgment. It may be suitable for measuring restoration success or the impact of any anthropogenic disturbance in a variety of ecosystem types.

Citation:
Rooney, R. C., & Bayley S. E. (2010).  Quantifying a stress gradient: An objective approach to variable selection standardization and weighting in ecosystem assessment. 10(6), 9 pages . Abstract
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Quantifying barrier effects of roads and seismic lines on movements of female woodland caribou in northeastern Alberta

Authors Dyer, S. J., O'Neill J. P., Wasel S. M., & Boutin S.
Year of Publication: 2002

Abstract:
Abstract: Linear developments such as roads, seismic lines, and pipeline rights-of-way are common anthropogenic features in the boreal forest of Alberta. These features may act as barriers to the movement of threatened woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou). Thirty-six woodland caribou were captured and fitted with global positioning system collars. These collared caribou yielded 43 415 locations during the 12-month study period. We compared rates of crossing roads and seismic lines with rates at which caribou crossed simulated roads and seismic lines created using ArcInfo GIS. Seismic lines were not barriers to caribou movements, whereas roads with moderate vehicle traffic acted as semipermeable barriers to caribou movements. The greatest barrier effects were evident during late winter, when caribou crossed actual roads 6 times less frequently than simulated road networks. Semipermeable barrier effects may exacerbate functional habitat loss demonstrated through avoidance behaviour. This novel approach represents an important develop- ment in the burgeoning field of road ecology and has great potential for use in validating animal-movement models.

Citation:
Dyer, S. J., O'Neill J. P., Wasel S. M., & Boutin S. (2002).  Quantifying barrier effects of roads and seismic lines on movements of female woodland caribou in northeastern Alberta. 80 (5), 6 pages . Abstract
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Quantifying greenhouse gas emissions from an oil sands tailings pond using micrometeorological flux measurement techniques

Authors Brown, C.
Year of Publication: 2013

Abstract:
The focus of this thesis is the use of micrometeorological techniques to quantify the flux of trace gases from surface area sources to the atmosphere. In particular, it is an investigation into the feasibility of using such techniques, specifically the eddy covariance and inverse dispersion methods, as alternatives to the traditional flux chamber approach to measuring methane emissions from oil sands tailings ponds. Exploring such alternatives is of interest because these techniques effectively sample a larger surface area at higher temporal resolution than the flux chamber approach permits. This thesis shows the capability of the eddy covariance method in making flux measurements from tailings ponds, provided the flow is undisturbed and the flux footprint is over the source area of interest. Furthermore, it demonstrates the loss of accuracy incurred when the inverse dispersion method is applied in cases where site conditions deviate from the ideal assumed by the model.

Citation:
Brown, C. (2013).  Quantifying greenhouse gas emissions from an oil sands tailings pond using micrometeorological flux measurement techniques. 128 pages . Abstract
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Quantifying land use of oil sands production: A life cycle perspective

Authors Jordaan, S. M., Keith D. W., & Stefox B.
Year of Publication: 2009

Abstract:
Methods for the inclusion of land use in life cycle assessment are not well established. Here, we describe an approach that compares land disturbance between spatially compact and diffuse activities that contribute to the life cycle of a single product, in this case synthetic crude from Alberta's oil sands. We compare production using surface mining and in situ extraction technologies. In situ technologies disturb less land per unit of production than surface mining, but the spatial footprint of in situ production is more dispersed—increasing landscape fragmentation—and in situ production requires more natural gas which increases land use due to gas production. We examine both direct and peripheral land use of oil sands development by quantifying land disturbance using a parameterized measure of fragmentation that relies on 'edge effects' with an adjustable buffer zone. Using a life cycle perspective, we show that the land area influenced by in situ technology is comparable to land disturbed by surface mining when fragmentation and upstream natural gas production are considered. The results suggest that land disturbance due to natural gas production can be relatively large per unit energy. This method could be applied to other energy developments, for example, a comparison between coal mining and natural gas production when both fuels are used to generate electricity.

Citation:
Jordaan, S. M., Keith D. W., & Stefox B. (2009).  Quantifying land use of oil sands production: A life cycle perspective. 4(2), 15 pages . Abstract
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Quantifying saline groundwater seepage to surface waters in the Athabasca oil sands region

Authors Jasechko, S., Gibson J. J., Birks S. J., & Yi Y.
Year of Publication: 2012

Abstract:
Western Canadian oil sands contain over 170 billion barrels of proven unconventional petroleum reserves currently extracted at 1.8 million barrels per day by either surface mining, or by in situ techniques that require subsurface injection of steam and hydrocarbon solvents. Natural high-salinity springs are known to add water and entrained inorganic and organic constituents to the Athabasca River and its tributaries in the region of ongoing bitumen production. However, the magnitude and synoptic distribution of these saline inputs has remained unquantified. Here, a chloride mass balance is used to estimate saline ground- water discharge to the Athabasca River from 1987 to 2010. Results show that the highest saline water discharge rate to the Athabasca River occurs between Ft. McMurray and the Peace-Athabasca Delta, sup- ported by subcrop exposure of lower Cretaceous- and Devonian-aged formations bearing saline waters. Further, the input of saline groundwater is found to be an important control on the chemistry of the lower Athabasca River, despite comprising 10 1 to 3% of the Athabasca River’s discharge. The flux of natural sal- ine groundwater entering the Athabasca does not appear to have increased or decreased from 1987 to 2010. The origin of seep salinity is interpreted as relict subglacial meltwater that has dissolved Devo- nian-aged evaporites, supported by saline Na-Cl type waters with low 18O/16O and 2H/1H ratios relative to modern precipitation. The magnitude of groundwater discharge and its impact on the Athabasca River’s chemistry in the area of ongoing bitumen development warrants the incorporation of natural groundwater seepages into surface water quality monitoring networks.

Citation:
Jasechko, S., Gibson J. J., Birks S. J., & Yi Y. (2012).  Quantifying saline groundwater seepage to surface waters in the Athabasca oil sands region. 27(10 ), 8 pages . Abstract
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Quantitative and qualitative analysis of naphthenic acids in natural waters surrounding the Canadian oil sands industry

Authors Ross, M. S., Dos Santos Pereira A., Fennell J., Davies M., Johnson J., Sliva L., et al.
Year of Publication: 2012

Abstract:
The Canadian oil sands industry stores toxic oil sands process-affected water (OSPW) in large tailings ponds adjacent to the Athabasca River or its tributaries, raising concerns over potential seepage. Naphthenic acids (NAs; ...) are toxic components of OSPW, but are also natural components of bitumen and regional groundwaters, and may enter surface waters through anthropogenic or natural sources. This study used a selective high-resolution mass spectrometry method to examine total NA concentrations and NA profiles in OSPW (n = 2), Athabasca River pore water (n = 6, representing groundwater contributions) and surface waters (n = 58) from the Lower Athabasca Region. NA concentrations in surface water (< 2-80.8 ...g/L) were 100-fold lower than previously estimated. Principal components analysis (PCA) distinguished sample types based on NA profile, and correlations to water quality variables identified two sources of NAs: natural fatty acids, and bitumen-derived NAs. Analysis of NA data with water quality variables highlighted two tributaries to the Athabasca River -- Beaver River and McLean Creek -- as possibly receiving OSPW seepage. This study is the first comprehensive analysis of NA profiles in surface waters of the region, and demonstrates the need for highly selective analytical methods for source identification and in monitoring for potential effects of development on ambient water quality.

Citation:
Ross, M. S., Dos Santos Pereira A., Fennell J., Davies M., Johnson J., Sliva L., et al. (2012).  Quantitative and qualitative analysis of naphthenic acids in natural waters surrounding the Canadian oil sands industry. 46(23), 9 pages . Abstract
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Quaternary Geology and Bedrock Subcrop of the Cold Lake to Ft. McMurray Area, Alberta - Surface Structure, Empress Formation Sand and Gravel (NTS 73L, M) (1:250 000-scale gridded data)

Authors
Year of Publication: 2006

Abstract:
A digital grid of the top of the Empress Formation where present, or the topography of the surrounding landscape, where the formation is absent. This includes the units 1 to 3 of the Empress Formation in buried valleys, as well as undifferentiated Empress interfluve sediments resting on the bedrock surface between buried valleys. The unit is originally modelled from borehole data and adjusted to the bedrock surface, the surfaces of units 1, 2, 3 and interfluve units of the Empress Formation, and the present-day land surface. The grid is generated at a 250 metre cell-size resolution, based on 2003 information.

Citation:
[Anonymous] (2006).  Quaternary Geology and Bedrock Subcrop of the Cold Lake to Ft. McMurray Area, Alberta - Surface Structure, Empress Formation Sand and Gravel (NTS 73L, M) (1:250 000-scale gridded data). Abstract
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RADARSAT imagery: A new way to help map discharge and recharge Athabasca oil sands area

Authors Parks, K. P., & Grunsky E.
Year of Publication: 2002

Abstract:
Groundwater-resource studies benefit from maps of discharge and recharge areas. Even without wells, discharge areas are easy to locate, being characterized by low topographic position, positive surface-moisture balances, and anomalous geochemistry. Recharge areas are more difficult to map without wells because their negative surface-moisture balances are indistinguishable from areas with high local rates of evapotranspiration. As well, recharge may happen only seasonally or episodically, like during storm events. Because of these difficulties, hydrogeologists seeking to quantify groundwater balances in resource assessments where discharge-recharge maps don’t exist must resort to applying uniform, constant recharge rates over all non-discharge areas to balance the more easily definable and mappable groundwater discharge. Radarsat imagery may offer a new way to map discharge and recharge areas, especially in remote areas like the Athabasca Oil Sands Area. Radar reflectivity of the land surface is largely controlled by the dielectric constant, itself a function of moisture content, as well surface texture, roughness, relief, and other factors. By processing radarsat data from the Athabasca Oil Sands Area with statistical techniques, the AGS has documented patterns that appear from aerial reconaissance to be correlative with surface-moisture content. Further processing of the imagery is underway to account for the contributions of elevation, relief, surficial geology, and vegetation to the imagery. Such integrated analysis may allow us to identify and map recharge and discharge areas for future monitoring in this large and remote area undergoing rapid oil-sands development.

Citation:
Parks, K. P., & Grunsky E. (2002).  RADARSAT imagery: A new way to help map discharge and recharge Athabasca oil sands area. 1 page . Abstract
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Radionuclide levels in fish from Lake Athabasca, February, 1993

Authors Smithson, G.
Year of Publication: 1993

Abstract:
The Northern River Basins study was initiated in 1991 to understand and characterize the cumulative effects of development on the water and aquatic environment of the Peace, Slave, and Athabasca Rivers. Extensive uranium mine-mill operations were in place around Lake Athabasca from the 1950s to the 1980s and some mining continues today. Residents of the area are concerned that tailings from these mines may enter Lake Athabasca causing radioisotope contamination of the fish. The study performed radiochemical analysis and biological examinations of northern pike, suckers, and lake whitefish collected in February 1993 from Lake Athabasca near Bustard Island and Hook Point. A complete analysis for all the major, naturally occurring radioisotopes was conducted and the fish were examined for abnormal growth problems or diseases. This report describes the results of the analysis.

Citation:
Smithson, G. (1993).  Radionuclide levels in fish from Lake Athabasca, February, 1993. (Saskatchewan Research Council, Ed.). Abstract  Download: 0-662-21356-4.pdf (2.69 MB)
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Rapid assessment of the toxicity of oil sands process-affected waters using fish cell lines

Authors Sansom, B., Vo N. T., Kavanagh R., Hanner R., MacKinnon M., Dixon D. G., et al.
Year of Publication: 2013

Abstract:
Rapid and reliable toxicity assessment of oil sands process-affected waters (OSPW) is needed to support oil sands reclamation projects. Conventional toxicity tests using whole animals are relatively slow, costly, and often subjective, while at the same time requiring the sacrifice of test organisms as is the case with lethal dosage/concentration assays. A nonlethal alternative, using fish cell lines, has been developed for its potential use in supporting oil sands reclamation planning and to help predict the viability of aquatic reclamation models such as end-pit lakes. This study employed six fish cell lines (WF-2, GFSk-S1, RTL-W1, RTgill-W1, FHML, FHMT) in 24 h viability assays for rapid fluorometric assessment of cellular integrity and functionality. Forty-nine test water samples collected from the surface of oil sands developments in the Athabasca Oil Sands deposit, north of Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada, were evaluated in blind. Small subsample volumes (8 ml) were mixed with 2 ml of 5× concentrated exposure media and used for direct cell exposures. All cell line responses in terms of viability as measured by Alamar blue assay, correlated well with the naphthenic acids (NA) content in the samples (R (2) between 0.4519 and 0.6171; p<0.0001) when data comparisons were performed after the bioassays. NA or total acid-extractable organics group has been shown to be responsible for most of the acute toxicity of OSPW and our results further corroborate this. The multifish cell line bioassay provides a strong degree of reproducibility among tested cell lines and good relative sensitivity of the cell line bioassay as compared to available in vivo data that could lead to cost effective, high-throughput screening assays.

Citation:
Sansom, B., Vo N. T., Kavanagh R., Hanner R., MacKinnon M., Dixon D. G., et al. (2013).  Rapid assessment of the toxicity of oil sands process-affected waters using fish cell lines. 49(1), 13 pages . Abstract
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Rapid assessment of toxicity of oil sands process-affected waters using fish cell lines

Authors Sansom, B., MacDonald J., MacKinnon M., Dixon D. G., & Lee L. E.
Year of Publication: 2009

Abstract:
Rapid and reliable toxicity assessment of oil sands process-affected waters (OSPW) is needed to support oil sands reclamation projects. Conventional toxicity tests using whole animals are relatively slow, costly, and often subjective, while at the same time requiring the sacrifice of test organisms as is the case with lethal dosage/concentration assays. A nonlethal alternative, using fish cell lines, has been developed for its potential use in supporting oil sands reclamation planning and to help predict the viability of aquatic reclamation models such as end-pit lakes. This study employed six fish cell lines (WF-2, GFSk-S1, RTL-W1, RTgill-W1, FHML, FHMT) in 24 h viability assays for rapid fluorometric assessment of cellular integrity and functionality. Forty-nine test water samples collected from the surface of oil sands developments in the Athabasca Oil Sands deposit, north of Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada, were evaluated in blind. Small subsample volumes (8 ml) were mixed with 2 ml of 5× concentrated exposure media and used for direct cell exposures. All cell line responses in terms of viability as measured by Alamar blue assay, correlated well with the naphthenic acids (NA) content in the samples (R 2 between 0.4519 and 0.6171; p < 0.0001) when data comparisons were performed after the bioassays. NA or total acid-extractable organics group has been shown to be responsible for most of the acute toxicity of OSPW and our results further corroborate this. The multifish cell line bioassay provides a strong degree of reproducibility among tested cell lines and good relative sensitivity of the cell line bioassay as compared to available in vivo data that could lead to cost effective, high-throughput screening assays. Read less

Citation:
Sansom, B., MacDonald J., MacKinnon M., Dixon D. G., & Lee L. E. (2009).  Rapid assessment of toxicity of oil sands process-affected waters using fish cell lines. 59 pages . Abstract
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Rapid densification of the oil sands mature fine tailings (MFT) by microbial activity

Authors Guo, C.
Year of Publication: 2010

Abstract:
The Mildred Lake Settling Basin (MLSB) is the largest disposal site for mature fine tailings (MFT) at the Syncrude Canada Ltd oil sands plant. Since 1996, MFT densification in the MLSB has significantly accelerated due to microbial activity. Methane-producing microorganisms, known as methanogens, have become very active. A field and laboratory research program has been performed to study the mechanisms leading to the rapid densification. This research program consisted of historical monitoring data analyses, field investigations, small-scale column tests, and gas MFT densification tests. The field investigations have shown that the rapid densification of the MFT has occurred in the southern part of the pond ranging from 8 m to 15 m below the water surface. A connection existed between the rapid densification zone and the zone with intense microbial activity at the pond. The small-scale column tests demonstrated that, with increases of biogas generation, water drainage from the MFT was enhanced. Gas MFT densification tests showed that, stress histories and total pressure affected MFT densification property during microbial activity. Under high total pressure (6-7 m below pond surface) gas bubbles had difficulty to release. For MFT without pre-consolidation or under a preloading, during rapid gas generation, water was rapidly drained out. For over-consolidated MFT, water flowed back into MFT quickly during intense biogas generation. The concept of operative stress, the difference between the total stress and pore water pressure for the soil with large gas bubbles, was introduced to analyze the densification behavior of gassy MFT. Under high total pressure and under a preloading (1 kPa), excess pore pressure increased and operative stress decreased during rapid gas generation while water drainage from the MFT was accelerated. Total pressure and stress history also affected the structure and permeability of the MFT during microbial activity. Under low total pressure (1 m below pond surface) and without pre-consolidation, the MFT permeability increased after intense microbial activity.

Citation:
Guo, C. (2010).  Rapid densification of the oil sands mature fine tailings (MFT) by microbial activity. 498 pages . Abstract
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Rare vascular plants of Alberta

Authors Kershaw, L. J., Gould J., Johnson D. J., & Lancaster J.
Year of Publication: 2001

Abstract:
This book describes about 480 species of rare vascular plants found in the province of Alberta. Species descriptions are divided into four main sections based on growth form (woody plants, broad-leaved herbs, grasslike plants, and ferns and fern allies). A general description of each plant is followed by descriptions of habitat and maps showing the distribution of most species in both Alberta and North America. Each species description is concluded with notes on synonymy, descriptions of related or similar looking plants, etymology of the scientific names and, for some species, medicinal or aboriginal uses of the plants. An illustrated glossary, a reference list, and an index conclude the book.

Citation:
Kershaw, L. J., Gould J., Johnson D. J., & Lancaster J. (2001).  Rare vascular plants of Alberta. Abstract
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Rates of disturbance vary by data resolution: Implications for conservation schedules using the Alberta Boreal Forest as a case study

Authors Komers, P. E., & Stanojevic Z.
Year of Publication: 2013

Abstract:
Investigations of biophysical changes on earth caused by anthropogenic disturbance provide governments with tools to generate sustainable development policy. Canada currently experiences one of the fastest rates of boreal forest disturbance in the world. Plans to conserve the 330 000 km2 boreal forest in the province of Alberta exist but conservation targets and schedules must be aligned with rates of forest disturbance. We explore how disturbance rate, and the accuracy with which we detect it, may affect conservation success. We performed a change detection analysis from 1992 to 2008 using Landsat and SPOT satellite image data processing. Canada's recovery strategy for boreal caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) states that ≤35% of a caribou range can be either burned or within 500 m of a man-made feature for caribou to recover. Our analyses show that by 2008 78% of the boreal forest was disturbed and that, if the current rate continues, 100% would be disturbed by 2028. Alberta plans to set aside 22% for conservation in a region encompassing oil sands development to balance economic, environmental, and traditional indigenous land-use goals. Contrary to the federal caribou recovery strategy, provincial conservation plans do not consider wildfire a disturbance. Based on analyses used in the provincial plan, we apply a 250 m buffer around anthropogenic footprints. Landsat image analysis indicates that the yearly addition of disturbance is 714 km2 (0.8%). The higher resolution SPOT images show fine-scale disturbance indicating that actual disturbance was 1.28 times greater than detected by Landsat. If the SPOT image based disturbance rates continue, the 22% threshold may be exceeded within the next decade, up to 20 years earlier than indicated by Landsat-based analysis. Our results show that policies for sustainable development will likely fail if governments do not develop time frames that are grounded by accurate calculations of disturbance rates.

Citation:
Komers, P. E., & Stanojevic Z. (2013).  Rates of disturbance vary by data resolution: Implications for conservation schedules using the Alberta Boreal Forest as a case study. 19(9), 12 pages . Abstract
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Rates of elemental sulphur oxidation and associated oxygen and sulphur isotope fractionation

Authors Smith, L. A.
Year of Publication: 2009

Citation:
Smith, L. A. (2009).  Rates of elemental sulphur oxidation and associated oxygen and sulphur isotope fractionation.
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Ratroot (Acorus americanus) propagation and establishment on created wetlands in the oil sands region of Alberta

Authors Smreciu, A., Wood S., & Gould K.
Year of Publication: 2013

Citation:
Smreciu, A., Wood S., & Gould K. (2013).  Ratroot (Acorus americanus) propagation and establishment on created wetlands in the oil sands region of Alberta.
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Reach-specific water quality objectives for the lower Athabasca River

Authors
Year of Publication: 2007

Abstract:
This report describes the research undertaken to develop reach specific water quality objectives for the lower Athabasca River that reflect protection of designated water uses. The approach used in is based on methods outlined by the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment and fall into two destinct strategies: an anti-degradation strategy and a use protection strategy. The Athabasca River Model (ARM) was used to define the background concentrations and to predict water quality constituent concentrations based on spatial and temporal loadings from existing, approved, and planned developments.

Citation:
[Anonymous] (2007).  Reach-specific water quality objectives for the lower Athabasca River. (Golder Associates Ltd., Ed.). 87 pages . Abstract
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Rebuilding boreal forest ecosystems after industrial disturbance

Authors Macdonald, E., Quideau S., & Landhausser S.
Year of Publication: 2012

Citation:
Macdonald, E., Quideau S., & Landhausser S. (2012).  Rebuilding boreal forest ecosystems after industrial disturbance. 27 pages .
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Recent advances in the chemistry of Alberta bitumens and heavy oil

Authors Strausz, O. P.
Year of Publication: 1988

Citation:
Strausz, O. P. (1988).  Recent advances in the chemistry of Alberta bitumens and heavy oil. 24 pages .
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Recent enhancements in mined oil sands bitumen extraction technology

Authors Houlihan, R., & Williams K. H.
Year of Publication: 1987

Abstract:
The results of a study to evaluate promising alternatives to the Hot Water Extraction Process for extraction of bitumen from mined oil sands are reviewed and reassessed in light of recent developments in bitumen extraction technology. It is found that the Syncrude developments increase bitumen recovery and energy efficiency and reduce production costs to levels comparable to other promising aqueous extraction processes. Concerns with tailings accumulation of the process remain unresolved. These accumulations represent major environmental and resource recovery concerns. A high priority should be placed on developing a suitable commercial process to overcome these concerns.

Citation:
Houlihan, R., & Williams K. H. (1987).  Recent enhancements in mined oil sands bitumen extraction technology. 26(1), 5 pages . Abstract
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Receptor modeling of epiphytic lichens to elucidate the sources and spatial distribution of inorganic air pollution in the Athabasca oil sands region

Authors Landis, M. S., Pancras J. P., Graney J. R., Stevens R. K., Percy K. E., & Krupa S.
Year of Publication: 2013

Citation:
Landis, M. S., Pancras J. P., Graney J. R., Stevens R. K., Percy K. E., & Krupa S. (2013).  Receptor modeling of epiphytic lichens to elucidate the sources and spatial distribution of inorganic air pollution in the Athabasca oil sands region. 40 pages .
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