Syncrude found guilty in 1,606 duck deaths

[Barrett808]

In a landmark ruling, a judge has found oil sands giant Syncrude Canada Ltd. guilty of a pair of environmental charges stemming from the deaths of 1,606 birds two years ago.

Provincial Court Judge Ken Tjosvold ruled Friday that Syncrude was indeed responsible for its tailings pond where the ducks were found, and it “did not deploy the bird deterrents early enough and quickly enough” around the 12-square-kilometre pond, which contained toxic, oily bitumen byproduct.

Syncrude found guilty in 1,606 duck deaths


Tar sands tailings pond. This tailings pond is about five kilometers long and is located to the north of the Syncrude oil sands operation. Photo: David Doodge, Pembina Institute

[G_j]

1. good ruling nt