Syncrude charged in deaths of 31 great blue herons at oilsands mine

The Alberta Energy Regulator has charged Syncrude Canada in the deaths of 31 great blue herons discovered at a pond at the Mildred Lake mine north of Fort McMurraytwo years ago.

• 30 blue herons found dead at Syncrude Mildred Lake site
• Syncrude blue heron deaths: A look at 'the royalty of our wetlands'

The company is charged with failing to store a hazardous substance toensureit does not come into contact or contaminate animals, according to a newsrelease from the regulator. The charges were laid under the Environment Protection and Enhancement Act.

Syncrude spokesperson Will Gibson said the oilsands company is "truly saddened and deeply regrets" the death of the birds that occurred in an inactive part of the mine.

"Our goal is to prevent the deaths of birds and other wildlife as a result of our operations," Gibson said. "We have already taken steps to address this after consulting with wildlife industry experts."

Canons, strobe lights, radar

Gibson saidSyncrude has made changes to its waterfowl protection plan, not just at tailings facilities after similar incidents, but also on other bodies of water.

The changes include installingstrobe lights, scarecrows, noise devicesand a radar-based deterrence that activates propane-fired noise canons when birds approach.

There's also a central bird-monitoring and control centre with year-round staffing, especiallyduring known bird migration times.

"We know the public expects our industry to provide energy in a responsible way," Gibson said. "We are committed to responsible development."

Syncrudefaces a maximum fine of$500,000. It is scheduled to appear in court in FortMcMurray on Sept. 27.

The incident was reported to the AER on Aug.7, 2015.

Fine fair or fowl?

Environmentalists are praising the charges, but some say the fine still doesn't fit the crime.

"How many times do incidents like this need to occur before we see stronger action from the government said Greenpeacespokesperson MikeHudema."That's a fineSyncrudecan pay-off in a couple of hours worth of profits."

CleoDesjarlaisReece, co-chairof the Keepers of the Athabasca Watershed Society, welcomedthe charges.

"I am really happy," Desjarlais Reece said. "We have great concerns about our wildlife, about our birds and our water."

Syncrudewas fined $3 million whenmore than 1,600 ducks died after landing on a tailings pond in 2008.

In October 2010, more than 550 birds died or hadto be killed when an early winter storm forced them to land on waste ponds belonging toSyncrudeandSuncor.

In November 2015, 122 birds were killed after landing on three tailings ponds in the area, including one at MildredLake.

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