Investigation of sustainable community-based strategies for the mitigation of the environmental effects of oil sands tailings ponds
The development of the Athabasca Oil Sands in Alberta has been a source of national and global controversy in recent years. This is in part due to the impact it is having on the health and way of life of locals and the creation of large toxic waste ponds. These ponds are known to leak into the Athabasca River which carries the pollutants downstream. People living downstream from the oil sands are then affected by the contaminated water and the wildlife in the area becomes unsafe for consumption. This project seeks to find a way to mitigate the harmful effects of oil sands operations on the downstream communities by targeting the chemicals within the tailings ponds, preventing groundwater seepage and proper reclamation oft the tailings ponds.