CALGARY -- A team of Canada's top scientists is wading into the pitched debate over the damage the oil sands is causing to the environment and human health.
Their mission: to judge what's true and what's not.
"Canadians need to have an independent expert assessment of the environmental and health impacts of the development of the Athabasca oil sands, " the Royal Society of Canada argued this week, as it set up a panel that includes eight of the country's most respected geology, engineering, public health, zoology, economics and ecology researchers. A noted U.S. air-quality scientist will also sit on the panel.
Together, they will examine some of the most controversial accusations that have been levelled against industry: that it is damaging aquatic life; that it is causing elevated rates of cancer in nearby First Nations; that it produces green house gas-laden "dirty oil."
Industry has disputed each of these claims, and the battle between companies and critics has led to a confusing volley of statistics tailored to suit each side.
The panel will not provide new research, but will instead use the expertise of its members both to assess which claims are fair and to present new ways that government and industry can manage impacts.
The panel's report, expected in the spring of 2011, is "intended to provide interested and motivated Canadians with a source of information that we can, I think, rightfully say is not driven by any agenda of any of the key players," said panel chair Steve Hrudey, a professor emeritus of environmental health sciences at the University of Alberta.
Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers vice-president Greg Stringham said the Royal Society interest points to the national importance of the oil sands, and welcomed the addition of another credible voice.
"Independent scientific studies that are being done like this one will certainly help add to the foundation for policy making," he said.
Environmental groups, too, hope the report will fill what is a gap in the scientific discussion on the oil sands, which already produce 1.3 million barrels a day.
"The academic community has been pretty quiet on the oil sands, so their weighing in will be pretty useful," said Simon Dyer, oil sands director for the Pembina Institute.
About 2,000 of Canada's top researchers are selected by their peers as Royal Society fellows for their "outstanding contributions" in natural and social sciences, the arts and humanities.
The Society will fund travel and publication costs for the oil sands panel, but individual panelists won't be paid for their contributions.
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