BOE Report

NAFTA body to feds: respond to oilsands concerns

CALGARY - A North American trade body has asked Ottawa to respond to allegations that it has failed to enforce its own laws when it comes to oilsands waste known as tailings.Two environmental groups and three individuals assert the federal government has failed to enforce provisions in the Fisheries Act by allowing harmful substances to leak from tailings ponds into the Athabasca Watershed.They made their complaint in 2010 to the Commission for Environmental Co-operation, an organization through [Read more]

TransCanada offers alternate west-east pipeline route

EDMUNDSTON, N.B. - A spokesman for TransCanada says the company is looking to address concerns raised by the mayor of Edmundston, N.B. about the route for the EnergyEast pipeline project.Edmundston Mayor Cyrille Simard had wanted assurances the route for the west-to-east pipeline would not harm his city's watershed area and wouldn't run close to residential neighbourhoods.Philippe Cannon, a spokesman for TransCanada's (TSX:TRP) project, says a new route was proposed during an open house held by [Read more]

Group reapplies to oppose oilsands project

EDMONTON - An environmental group is asking again to speak to an oilsands review panel after a court upheld its right to do so.The Alberta Oilsands Environmental Coalition is asking the province for the right to appear at a regulatory hearing into a project proposed by Southern Pacific Resource Corp. to expand an oilsands facility northwest of Fort McMurray.When the coalition first asked for that permission, it was denied.The group appealed that refusal to the courts and won — partly on [Read more]

New senior Obama adviser anti Keystone XL, refuses to even deliberate pipeline

WASHINGTON - A new senior adviser to President Barack Obama will recuse himself from deliberations on the Keystone XL oil pipeline, the White House said Wednesday. John Podesta, a former chief of staff under President Bill Clinton, has spoken out against the pipeline, which would carry oil derived from tar sands in western Canada to refineries in Texas. Podesta founded the Center for American Progress, a liberal think-tank that opposes the pipeline. Podesta's hiring cheered environmental [Read more]

Neil Young concert fights oilsands

EDMONTON - Music legend Neil Young is playing four concerts in his native Canada to benefit a northern Alberta aboriginal band fighting oilsands development in its territory. Canadian jazz singer and pianist Diana Krall is to appear as a special guest. Tickets for the January shows scheduled for Toronto, Winnipeg, Regina and Calgary go on sale Tuesday. "The theme of the concerts is honour the treaties," said Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation spokeswoman Eriel Deranger. "All the ticket [Read more]

OIL FLOWS ON GULF COAST PIPELINE

CALGARY - Oil has begun to flow on the southern leg of TransCanada Corp.'s Keystone XL pipeline. Spokesman Shawn Howard says the company began filling the US$2.3-billion line with oil Saturday morning in Cushing, Okla. That crude will eventually make its way to Houston-area refineries. Howard says over the coming weeks, TransCanada will inject about three million barrels of oil into the system. TransCanada is still awaiting approval from the Obama administration to construct the [Read more]

Oil stays near $98 as US economy shows improvement

The price of oil remained close to $98 a barrel Monday after figures showing stronger U.S. hiring suggested demand for crude could increase.By early afternoon in Europe, benchmark U.S. crude for January delivery was down 2 cents at $97.63 a barrel time in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract closed up 27 cents at $97.65 on Friday.U.S. data has been showing strong signs of economic recovery, helping the Nymex contract rise last week by nearly 6 per cent, its [Read more]

Shell’s Jackpine mine gets nod from Ottawa

CALGARY - Shell Canada's controversial Jackpine oilsands mine expansion plan has received the go-ahead from Ottawa. Environment Minister Leona Aglukkaq says the 100,000 barrels-per-day expansion is "likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects," but that it is "justified by the circumstances." In her decision, Aglukkaq set out 88 conditions for Shell regarding the protection of wildlife and the health of nearby aboriginal communities, among other things. Ottawa's decision [Read more]

Obstruction charges withdrawn from Poseidon

CALGARY - The Alberta Securities Commission has withdrawn obstruction of justice allegations against troubled Calgary-based firm Poseidon Concepts Corp.In September, the regulator had alleged that Poseidon Concepts tried to hide changes in minutes taken during its board of director and audit committee meetings.The documents, which were handed over to the watchdog, were taken between Nov. 1, 2011 and Feb. 28, 2013.The ASC did not provide reasons for the decision to withdraw its allegations, which [Read more]

First Nations mistrust energy sector: survey

CALGARY - A university study suggests Canada's First Nations harbour a deep mistrust of the oil and gas industry, but are willing to talk energy development if it can be proven to be beneficial to them.The study by the University of Calgary's School of Public Policy surveyed 300 individuals by phone and online in aboriginal communities across the country between July 6 and July 15.The goal was to get a better idea of how First Nations view the industry and how knowledgeable they are about [Read more]