ACFN concerned over oily sheen on Athabasca River

An “oily” sheen on a stretch of the Athabasca River noticed on July 6 was brought to the attention of Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resources Development by Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation Chief Allan Adam. Environmental officials informed the First Nation that the occurrence was due to natural causes, likely a large blue-green algae bloom, but Adams is not convinced and ACFN has taken its own water samples. “We followed the Athabasca River just above Poplar Point and we could see the oil residue from a plane up above that stretched over 100 km long,” Adams told the Edmonton Journal. ESRD conducted its own aerial surveillance and could not detect an oil spill. Industries were contacted by ESRD and did not report any incidences. The finding of the spill happened on the same day hundreds of people from across Canada gathered in Fort McMurray to participate in a 14 km healing walk through the tar sands region. The walk is an annual event organized by the Keepers of the Athabasca. Premier Alison Redford and Natural Resource Minister Joe Oliver were invited to take part in the walk but neither attended.