Answers, action still wanted on Cold Lake leaks

While Cold Lake First Nation continues to pursue answers on oil spilling at Cold Lake Air Weapons Range, the First Nation says two new bitumen leaks bring the number to six on the site. Canadian Natural Resources Ltd., who operates the project, has blamed the first four leaks on mechanical failure and claimed in July that they had been contained. “Our people want answers and factual information on the contamination of now, six surface releases of bitumen oil,” said Chief Bernice Martial. Meanwhile, on Sept. 24, the government issued an environmental protection order requiring CNRL to temporarily remove the water from one of its bitumen leak sites — a small lake — before it freezes. The other three original leak sites are not covered under this order.