FORT MCMURRAY, ALBERTA -- (Marketwired) -- 06/18/13 -- The Wood Buffalo Environmental Association (WBEA) welcomed three new members to their table at the Association's 15th Annual General Meeting on June 12th; the Fort McMurray Metis Local 1935, Parks Canada and Brion Energy.
WBEA's membership voted unanimously to accept the new members, bringing the Associations membership to 34 member organizations who represent three levels of government, environmental non-government organizations, industry operators and Aboriginal groups.
Founded in 1987, Fort McMurray Metis Local 1935 is a registered not-for-profit member based organization whose mission is to pursue the advancement of the Metis people of Fort McMurray and Northeastern Alberta. "We're pleased to have the opportunity to work at the WBEA table with our First Nation and Metis partners in Fort McKay, as well as with our industry and government colleagues, as we advance important environmental monitoring initiatives in the oil sands," said General Manager Kyle Harrietha. "We believe that leading practice, peer reviewed, and transparent environmental monitoring developed using sound science and traditional knowledge is crucial to the protection of our constitutional rights."
As the organization responsible for protecting and presenting nationally significant examples of Canada's natural and cultural heritage, Parks Canada is a very important stakeholder in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo (RMWB). Rob Kent, Superintendent Wood Buffalo National Park, said, "Parks Canada recognizes the value in building upon the existing partnerships and synergies in environmental monitoring networks in the Wood Buffalo region. WBEA's efforts provide a strong complement to our Agency's mandate for ecological integrity monitoring and reporting in the Peace- Athabasca Delta of Wood Buffalo National Park. In turn, we are confident that our participation can benefit WBEA and its monitoring network."
WBEA's third new member, Brion Energy, is the operator for the MacKay River Commercial Project and the Dover Commercial Project. Both facilities will use steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) technology to produce a combined 400,000 barrels of crude bitumen per day at full operation.
"Environmental stewardship is one of the cornerstones of Brion Energy. We are committed to compliance with our EPEA approval and collaboration with members of WBEA to continually improve and contribute to environmental monitoring within the region," says Cindy Robinson, Senior Environmental Advisor with Brion Energy.
WBEA Executive Director, Dr. Kevin Percy, is pleased to have new members on board. "Each of our new members is an important stakeholder in the RMWB, and we welcome their perspectives and expertise at the WBEA table. The strength of our multi-stakeholder membership will be very important as we move forward and contribute to the implementation of the Joint Canada - Alberta Implementation Plan for Oil Sands Monitoring (JOSM), and the new Alberta Environmental Monitoring Agency," said Percy.
The Wood Buffalo Environmental Association (WBEA) is an independent, community based, not-for-profit organization that monitors the air in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. This is done through a variety of air, land and human monitoring programs. The air quality information collected is openly shared with stakeholders and the public.
For more information please visit www.wbea.org.
Backgrounder:
WBEA is made up of 34 member organizations -
Aboriginal Members Industry Members
Fort McKay First Nation Athabasca Oil Corp.
Fort McKay Metis Brion Energy
Metis Local 1935 Canadian Natural Resources Ltd.
Cenovus Energy Inc.
Environmental Organization Members Conoco Phillips Canada
Fort McMurray Environmental Association Devon Canada
Pembina Institute for Appropriate Finning Canada Ltd.
Development
Hammerstone Corp.
Government Members Husky Energy Inc.
Alberta Environment and Sustainable Imperial Oil
Resource
Development MEG Energy
Alberta Health Services Nexen Inc.
Alberta Health and Wellness Shell Canada Ltd.
Energy Resources Conservation Board Statoil Canada Ltd.
Environment Canada Suncor Energy Inc.
Health Canada Sunshine Oilsands Ltd.
Parks Canada Syncrude Canada Ltd.
Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo Teck Resources Ltd.
Saskatchewan Environment Total E&P Canada Ltd.
Williams Energy
Contacts:
Melissa Pennell
WBEA Communications
780-977-8440
mpennell@wbea.org
www.wbea.org