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Calgary-based company wants to develop in the U.S.

from FFWD

"A Calgary company is set to be the first to mine oilsands in the U.S., but that won’t happen if a coalition of American environmental activists has its way.

"US Oil Sands Inc. has been working since 2003 to begin extracting bitumen from its 80-square-kilometre lease in the forested Uintah Basin region of northeast Utah. The company expects to be producing 2,000 barrels of oil per day by early 2014.

"However, since it began the first field tests of its unique production methods in Utah, US Oil Sands has been monitored and opposed by grassroots environmental groups such as Western Resource Advocates, Riverkeepers, Rising Tide, Utah Tarsands Resistance and Before It Starts. Western Resource Advocates led a 2011 appeal to the Utah government’s Oil, Gas and Mining Division against the oil company’s bitumen licence on the basis the lease violates the U.S. Clean Water Act and the state had not considered the impact the mining operation would have on groundwater in the area. Water networks in the oil lease are connected to the Colorado River, which provides drinking water to nearly 30 million people. …"

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Alberta's Child and Youth Advocate recommends creating a more seamless transition process for foster children entering adulthood.

from FFWD

"For many youth in Canada’s foster systems, turning 18 represents the end of the strongest support system they’ve ever had. A report released April 10 by Alberta’s Child and Youth Advocate highlights the problems youth in care face when they age-out, or transition to legal adulthood.

"The report, Where do we go from here?, says children in foster care are poorly prepared for independence; in addition to having few practical life skills, funding and resources for foster children change dramatically when they turn 18. …"

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Oil and gas leases sold in habitat despite documented effects.

from FFWD Weekly

"The Alberta government is being accused of ignoring its own wildlife conservation policies to serve the energy sector. Despite recommendations from scientists, provincially appointed stakeholder committees and Environment Canada to eliminate industrial activity in woodland caribou rangeland in order to restore the dwindling species, Alberta Energy has reopened gas and oil extraction lease sales within recognized caribou habitat.

"Oilsands developments occur within the boundaries of eight of the province’s 12 woodland caribou herds, with a minimum of 64 per cent industrial disturbance throughout all the herds’ ranges. In northwest Alberta, 95 per cent of the Little Smoky herd range has been affected by industry. In October 2012, Environment Canada’s recovery strategy for the woodland caribou determined each herd required at least 65 percent of its range intact and industry-free if the animals are to survive. …"

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