By Canadian Press

Imperial Oil files cleanup plan for tailings leak in Alberta, won’t disclose details

Feb 13, 2023 | 1:12 PM

Imperial Oil Ltd. has filed a plan for the interim cleanup of one of the largest oilpatch spills in Alberta history but won’t say what it is.

A spokeswoman for the oilsands giant says the company has sent a plan to the Alberta Energy Regulator as required.

No new information about the massive spill and seepage event has been released by the company or the regulator.

The regulator says it’s in the middle of an investigation of how more than 5,000 cubic metres of tailings overflowed from one of its tailings dams at its Kearl site north of Fort McMurray.

That alone would make it one of Alberta’s largest spills, but Imperial must also deal with an unknown amount of toxic tailings that have seeped into groundwater and are pooling on the surface. 

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The seepage has been going on since at least May and still continues. 

According to last week’s order from the regulator, Imperial’s plan is supposed to include ways to stop and clean up the leak and seepage as well as to study wildlife impacts, including humane euthanasia of affected animals. 

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 13, 2023.

The Canadian Press