Overview
- Imperial Oil’s pipeline northwest of Cold Lake leaked 843,000 litres of bitumen emulsion, which occurred April 9 and is now contained.
- The Alberta Energy Regulator said recovery is about 90% complete with no reported effects to wildlife or open waterbodies.
- AER data lists 172,000 litres of crude bitumen and 671,000 litres of produced water, a salty mix that experts say can be more harmful than the oil itself.
- Regulator inspectors are overseeing the cleanup, snow fencing is in place to deter animals, and the cause of the leak is under investigation.
- Cold Lake First Nations leaders say repeated spills threaten treaty rights and want stronger oversight, and the regulator says any penalties will be posted on its public dashboard.