The Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation has served the Alberta Energy Regulator with notice of a lawsuit.
In a press release, ACFN said the lawsuit is focused on AER’s failure to Regulate toxic tailings spills from Imperial Oil’s Kearl facility.
The incidents made international headlines when it came to light that apart from one email, downstream communities, including First Nations, were left in the dark for nine months while Imperial Oil’s tailings were seeping offsite.
The uncontrolled discharges that saw 5.3 million litres of toxic industrial wastewater spill from Kearl mine in the tar sands into the surrounding environment, took place between May 2022 and February 2023.
The report found that the provincial energy regulator complied with existing policies, but noted the Kearl incidents “highlighted the need for more detailed processes and clearer communication protocols with Indigenous People and external stakeholders,” as well as recommended clearer definitions for certain terms, like “incident” and “emergency.”
At a town hall meeting on Tuesday evening, AFCN Chief Allan Adam spoke directly to AER CEO Laurie Pusher
Fort Chipewyan Metis President Kendrick Cardinal also spoke at the town hall
Read the full press release from ACFN
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