Alberta Tar Sands Industry Allowed To Emit 5% More NOX, 60% More VOCs Through 2015

OTTAWA -- Alberta's rapidly expanding oilsands sector will be the only Canadian industry allowed to increase smog-causing pollution over the next decade, according to a newly released document from Environment Canada about the Conservative government's clean air regulations.

The regulations require industries to achieve a 50 per cent reduction in four different types of emissions that are linked to smog by 2015. But the oilsands will be allowed to increase their nitrogen oxide levels by five per cent, and their volatile organic compound levels by 60 per cent by 2015.

The only reductions imposed on the oilsands sector would be to lower sulphur oxide emissions by 55 per cent, according to the Environment Canada document, which was distributed by Environment Canada officials at an information session for non-governmental organizations last week.

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Environment Minister John Baird said he hadn't seen the briefing note about air quality standards that was produced by his department, but would comment after reading it.

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