Imperial Oil faces federal order to stop seepage as tailings leak deemed harmful to wildlife

Federal inspectors have ruled a release of oilsands wastewater from Imperial Oil Ltd.’s Kearl mine is harmful to wildlife and have ordered the company to take immediate action to stop seepage from a tailings pond.

“Based on information enforcement officers have to date, the seep is believed to be deleterious, or harmful, to fish,” Environment Canada spokesperson Nicole Allen said in a statement.

“On March 10, 2023, enforcement officers issued a Fisheries Act direction to Imperial Oil. The direction requires immediate action to contain the seep and prevent it from entering a fish-bearing waterbody.”

Seepage from the Kearl site about 70 kilometres from