Oil Sands Mining Reclamation Challenge Dialogue – Report and Appendices

Authors
Keith Jones
David Forrest
Resource Date:
2010
Page Length
258

This is one of two versions of this report. This one (TR-4) contains the Report and Appendices; the other (TR-4A) contains only the Report. This report provides a high level summary of the conversations and discoveries that emerged over the course of the Reclamation Challenge Dialogue. During the first two months of 2010, OSRIN explored the idea of the dialogue with a number of key stakeholders who were either directly involved in or affected by the oil sands reclamation challenge. These discussions confirmed its value in having such a dialogue and provided guidance on what particular challenges were most important to focus on. Over 100 participants across the oil sands reclamation community of interest and practice were invited to respond to the Challenge Paper. Feedback was received from 43 individuals, including responses from governments, individuals working with First Nations in the oil sands area, academia, consulting firms, oil sands companies, research/technology agencies and nongovernment organizations. Many responded in considerable detail; over 100 pages of feedback were compiled unattributed into a Consolidated Feedback Document. This material was then synthesized into a Progress Report supplemented by a detailed Progress Report Appendix. Both the original feedback and the Progress Report material contain a wealth of information that can and should be capitalized on further. While the Challenge Paper intended to focus on a few key aspects of the reclamation challenge for mining in the oil sands area, it ended up provoking a wide range of reactions across almost the full spectrum of the “oil sands reclamation system.” The nature and depth of the responses underscored the complexity, diversity and interconnectivity of the numerous reclamation issues and opportunities presented. The responses also indicated how much people wanted to express their views on these challenges. It was obvious that the respondents put considerable effort into articulating thoughtful feedback. These were not just subjects of professional interest but were matters that evoked strong, passionate feelings. Clearly there are some strongly held but also widely divergent beliefs on certain topics. All of this feedback and its synthesis informed the design of the June 17th Workshop, which was held at the University of Alberta in Edmonton and attended by 38 people. The workshop was supported by a Workshop Workbook. The results of the workshop were summarized in a Workshop Synopsis document that was distributed in early September. Based on the feedback to the Challenge Paper the Workshop scope was narrowed to create a systems view of oil sands reclamation with a particular focus on key components: (1) challenges related to the rationale and application of the equivalent land capability concept; (2) challenges related to end land use selection; and (3) challenges related to how to respond to and inform the public’s expectation of reclamation success. Two different approaches to developing a reclamation system “map” were tested with Workshop participants. Eleven recommendations were developed from the ideas generated by the Challenge Dialogue process.