How are tailings ponds regulated?
As part of its responsibility to oversee oil sands mining and processing operations, the ERCB regulates the discard, including tailings. The memorandum of understanding with Alberta Environment recognizes the ERCB as the lead regulator for approving the need, location, design, and performance of discard sites and also recognizes the role and need for ERCB input into the broader process for establishing reclamation criteria that are clear and meet the objectives of the Government of Alberta. Directive 074: Tailings Performance Criteria and Requirements for Oil Sands Mining Schemes provides performance criteria for fine tailings consolidation operations and sets out requirements for consolidated tailings ponds and for reporting on performance against the criteria. The directive also requires that detailed tailings plans be filed as part of future annual mine plan submissions. As with all other aspects of oil sands operations, the ERCB takes very seriously the management of tailings and i
