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A before after dose response (BADR) : terrestrial biological monitoring framework for the oil sands.

Description

This Technical Report provides an overview of the hierarchical Before-After Dose-Response (BADR) study design that was developed to provide an integrated, efficient framework for the Terrestrial... More ≫

Description

This Technical Report provides an overview of the hierarchical Before-After Dose-Response (BADR) study design that was developed to provide an integrated, efficient framework for the Terrestrial Biological Monitoring (TBM) component of the OSM Program. BADR is a monitoring design that measures changes in select indicator groups and attributes those changes to oil sands activities using two monitoring approaches: (1) Before-After: Monitoring at different phases of oil sands development (currently developed, not developed, and reference); and (2) Dose-Response: Monitoring along a gradient of current oil sands disturbance (high to low). The combination of these two approaches forms the BADR design. By repeatedly surveying monitoring locations within this design over time, the TBM program can gain information on how biological systems respond to known stressor gradients in the oil sands region.

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Summary of enhanced monitoring of the Lower Athabasca River, 2018

Description

Summarizes work completed for the Lower Athabasca River enhanced monitoring program in 2018. Data that has been generated from this program to date includes surface water quality, sediment... More ≫

Description

Summarizes work completed for the Lower Athabasca River enhanced monitoring program in 2018. Data that has been generated from this program to date includes surface water quality, sediment quality, fish health endpoints, and fish communities. These data are provided in appendices at the end of this report.

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A study design for enhanced environmental monitoring of the Lower Athabasca River

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Presents an enhanced sampling design for deployment in the Lower Athabasca River. It represents one component of work to describe baseline environmental conditions in the Lower Athabasca River... More ≫

Description

Presents an enhanced sampling design for deployment in the Lower Athabasca River. It represents one component of work to describe baseline environmental conditions in the Lower Athabasca River prior to the potential release of coke slurry-treated oil sands process affected water (OSPW). The document describes sampling locations and sampling frequency to establish a comprehensive description of baseline environmental conditions in surface water chemistry, benthic sediments, benthic algae, benthic macroinvertebrates, and small-bodied fish.

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Oil Sands Monitoring Program : integration workshop reports (part 1 of 2)

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This report provides the results of seven technical integration workshops sponsored by the Oil Sands Monitoring program for the 2018-2019 fiscal year held between the end of October 2018 and early... More ≫

Description

This report provides the results of seven technical integration workshops sponsored by the Oil Sands Monitoring program for the 2018-2019 fiscal year held between the end of October 2018 and early February 2019. The seven workshops covered the following topics : terrestrial biological monitoring; groundwater; surface water and aquatic biology; atmospheric deposition, geospatial science, mercury, and predictive modelling. This report is a summary of detailed notes taken during each workshop.

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Oil Sands Monitoring Program : recommendation report (part 2 of 2)

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This report presents recommendations for the steps that should be taken by the Oils Sands Monitoring Program to: address the priority key questions that were identified as rising out of seven... More ≫

Description

This report presents recommendations for the steps that should be taken by the Oils Sands Monitoring Program to: address the priority key questions that were identified as rising out of seven workshops held between the end of October 2018 and early February 2019; achieve the program's objectives; and integrate the program in a manner consistent with its operational framework agreement.

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Knowledge for a changing environment : 2019-2024 science strategy

Description

Knowledge for a Changing Environment: 2019-2024 Science Strategy sets the strategic direction for an integrated environmental science program to monitor, evaluate, and report on the condition of... More ≫

Description

Knowledge for a Changing Environment: 2019-2024 Science Strategy sets the strategic direction for an integrated environmental science program to monitor, evaluate, and report on the condition of Alberta’s ambient environment. The strategy lays the foundation to: address key environmental information needs of multiple users; deliver transparent, sound and trustworthy science on environmental conditions; braid Indigenous Knowledge with classical science through knowledge co-production; and provide scientifically-sound information to decision makers so they can address provincial environmental challenges.

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Hierarchical clustering network analysis of ambient air monitoring in Alberta : phases 1 and 2

Description

An air monitoring science workshop held in 2015 identified that further analyses are recommended to assess potential redundancies in the long-term air monitoring network of Alberta. This report... More ≫

Description

An air monitoring science workshop held in 2015 identified that further analyses are recommended to assess potential redundancies in the long-term air monitoring network of Alberta. This report provides a summary of the air network optimization methodology, and guidance on how its application to ambient air quality monitoring networks in Alberta may provide insight to aid in air quality network optimization. The report focuses on all the ambient air monitoring networks in Alberta and on two specific oil sands areas: Athabasca and Cold Lake.

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Current and emerging methods for satellite monitoring of the oil sands

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The satellite remote sensing workshop brought the developers and potential clients of these satellite remote sensing products together to collectively identify opportunities for satellite remote... More ≫

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The satellite remote sensing workshop brought the developers and potential clients of these satellite remote sensing products together to collectively identify opportunities for satellite remote sensing deployment in subsequent years. The workshop discussions focused on measurements of wetland, greenhouse gases, and air quality. The outcomes of the workshop will be used to inform how satellites can be used to improve the scientific value, rigour, costs and confidence of monitoring and optimization of monitoring results.

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Summary, evaluation and integration of atmospheric deposition monitoring in the Athabasca oil sands region

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This report describes atmospheric deposition monitoring in the oil sands region of Alberta. It provides information related to the extent to which existing environmental monitoring is assessing... More ≫

Description

This report describes atmospheric deposition monitoring in the oil sands region of Alberta. It provides information related to the extent to which existing environmental monitoring is assessing the impacts of deposition of oil sands emissions to surrounding ecosystems. A workshop and series of webinars was held with prominent scientists to discuss progress made to date, significant knowledge gaps, and develop recommendations to begin addressing these gaps. This technical report articulates these activities and the recommendations which resulted.

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Assessments of groundwater influence on selected river systems in the oil sands region of Alberta

Description

Reports on two studies developed to address science needs and gaps related to groundwater-surface water interactions on tributaries of the Lower Athabasca River and proximate to tailings ponds.... More ≫

Description

Reports on two studies developed to address science needs and gaps related to groundwater-surface water interactions on tributaries of the Lower Athabasca River and proximate to tailings ponds. The studies address to sub-themes of the groundwater theme identified in the Joint Canada-Alberta Oil Sands Monitoring program regarding water quality of the Lower Athabasca River, namely: What is the relative importance and contribution of groundwater quality and quantity to surface waters? and: Is there groundwater seepage from tailings ponds and/or other oil sands industrial operations entering the surface water system?

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