Lead author to review report on oilsands development

Steve Hrudey, the lead author of a Royal Society of Canada report about oilsands development in Alberta, has agreed to review the study following criticism it was plagued with errors and overlooked environmental and health impacts of the industry’s operations. The study was released in December 2010 and has been used by industry and government officials to refute health and cancer concerns noted by First Nations communities living downstream of oilsands development. Hrudey agreed to the review after Alberta scientist Kevin Timoney critiqued one chapter of the review and said authors used outdated research, misreported data and downplayed the potential of contaminants.