Eco-group tells hearing Frontier oilsands megaproject would be a 'carbon disaster'

Some environmental groups are warningTeck Resources'proposed Frontier oilsands mine will bea "carbon disaster" with direct emissions comparable to adding almost 900,000 vehicles onthe road.

The $20.6-billion megaprojectis undergoing public hearings in Fort McMurray beforea joint review panel established bythe Alberta Energy Regulator and the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency.

Mark Worthing, a campaigner withSierra ClubBC, said he's concerned Frontier will exacerbate the world's "climate crisis."

"There's absolutely no way any project,activity or development that results in this magnitude of greenhouse gas emissions should even be entertained," Worthingtold the hearingWednesday.

"We feel that Teck has offered nocompelling arguments or proof that this project isanything other than a climate-carbon disaster."

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Frontier, which was first proposed as a four-phase project in 2011, would be built in two phases of 170,000 barrels-per-day (bpd) and 90,000 bpdwitha mine life of 41 years. The mine's lease area, 110 kilometres north of FortMcMurray, covers292 square kilometres.

Teck estimates the project would emit about four million tonnes of direct carbon emissions per year. One environmental group, the Oilsands Environmental Coalition (OSEC), estimates that would be like adding 891,000 cars to roadways.

OSECsaid itfears the emissions figure could be worse than Teck's estimates. The coalitionpresented its own studies at the hearingthat estimate Frontier would produce about six million tonnes of direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions annually.

OSECclaimsTeck neglected toaccount for other upstream emissions likenatural gas and diesel on site.

Teckdisputes OSEC's calculations.

Shattering climate goals?

OSEC and other environmental groups said the emissions from Frontier wouldn't help Alberta meet its goal to cap oilsands greenhouse gases at 100-million tonnesannually.

Critics saythe mine also would not help Canada keep its promise, under the 2015 Paris Agreement, to reduce 2005 greenhouse gas levels by 30 per cent. The Paris Agreement is a United Nations framework that Canada and other countries have signed to address climate change.

"Projects that get the pass need to be best in class and they need to be able to demonstrate that," said Nikki Way, a fossil fuel analyst who works with OSEC and Pembina.

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Doug Brown, the director of publicaffairs forTeck Resources, said his company is committed to reducing emissions. The Frontier mine, he added, wouldbe the most advanced in the oilsands in terms of controlling emissions.

In apresentation to the hearing, Teckcited a studythat suggests oilsandsgreenhouse gas emissions will decrease over time as a result of technological innovationsin the industry.

The recently published study, titled Greenhouse gas intensity of oil sands production,calculated that the averageintensity ofupstream greenhouse gas emissionsfromoilsandsproductionfell by 21 per cent between 2009 and 2017.

According to the report, authored byoilsandsanalystKevinBirn, the trend is expected to continue, with emissions decreasing furtherby 2030.

Thestudy states the declinehas come from carbon capture andstorage, using natural gasinstead of diesel torun heavy haul trucks, heating plants with natural gas insteadofpetroleum coke, and using solvents instead ofheat-intensive techniques to extract andprocess bitumen.

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As to whether the Frontier mine will push the oilsands over the province's annual 100-million-tonne target, Birn saidthe proposed mine alone is not likely to result in the limit being broken.

"Whether Teck would make or break the cap depends on what other projects are built," Birn said in an interview with CBCNews on Wednesday. "I don't know if it hangs on Teck's project."

Connect with David Thurton, CBC'sFort McMurraycorrespondent, onFacebook,Twitter,LinkedInor email him atdavid.thurton@cbc.ca