AB suspends sales of energy leases near caribou herds

[IndigeNews]

Province suspends sales of energy leases near ranges of threatened
caribou herds
By Sheila Pratt, Edmonton Journal May 4, 2013 10:34 AM

EDMONTON - In an unusual move, the provincial government temporarily
suspended sales of oil and gas leases near the ranges of the Little
Smoky Caribou and À La Peche herds northeast of Jasper National Park
until recovery plans are ready for the threatened species.

Environmentalists are “pleased and surprised” by the Energy
Department’s decision, the first time the ministry has suspended lease
sales to accommodate wildlife recovery plans, said Carol Campbell of
the Alberta Wilderness Association.

“The Redford government has shown leadership where previously the
Alberta government has refused to halt lease sales,” she said.

“This is a first good step in survival chances of these two caribou
herds.”

Under the direction of a federal caribou recover plan, Alberta
Environment is developing range plans setting out how to protect the
habitat to enable the recovery of the dwindling caribou herds. New
lease sales are suspended in the area until 2014 when those plans are
expected to be approved by the provincial cabinet, the Energy
Department.

Alberta Energy spokesman Ken Feenstra said the department decided to
halt leases after discussions with Alberta Environment.

Asked what promoted the change in attitude, Campbell said a combination
of factors, including more attention to environmental concerns and the
worsening plight of the Little Smoky herd this winter after an oil
company built a five-kilometre road into the last remaining area of
undisturbed forest.

“I think there’s pressure on Alberta to be more responsible energy
development,” Campbell said. “ But there’s still a lot to do as the
area can still be disturbed by activity from companies on existing
nearby leases.”

The federal caribou recovery strategy set out in 2012 requires a
minimum 65 per cent undisturbed habitat for the recovery of the
caribous. In the Little Smoky range, only five per cent of the habitat
remains intact.

In the case of the Little Smoky herd, the only measures keeping the
herd alive is an active wolf kill in the area, but that’s unethical as
a long-term solution, Campbell said.

There are many more steps to take, including regrowing the forest
broken up by roads, well sites, pipelines and other disturbances, as
well as encouraging oil companies to use horizontal drilling, she
added.

© Copyright (c) The Edmonton Journal

Under the direction of a federal caribou recover plan, Alberta
Environment is developing range plans setting out how to protect the
habitat to enable the recovery of the dwindling caribou herds. Here is
a supplied photo from Alberta Wilderness Association of Little Smoky
caribou.
Photograph by: Supplied , Alberta Wilderness Association

http://www.edmontonjournal.com/technology/
Province+suspends+sales+energy+leases+near+ranges/8335705/story.html
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