KURTENBACH: Oil sands and Fracking.

[Oscar]

KURTENBACH: Oil sands and Fracking.

June 26, 2014

To the Editor,

Canadian and American citizens need to study the long term continental environmental effects of the oil industry's proposals for the world's energy supplies, with regard to the processing of oil sands and fracking for natural gas.

None of the processed oil sands or fracking for natural gas is needed for Canada's energy requirements. All of this is being geared up to supply the export market and profits for the oil industry.

If the oil industries expansion plans for Canada are carried out, it is estimated that it could process 5 million barrels daily, which would require the construction of 14,000 kilometers of pipelines to carry this oil to export markets. Canadian rail shipments of crude oil have increased from 6000 cars in 2009 to 14,000 per day in 2013.

There are presently 66 refineries in the U.S. processing Alberta bitumen.--The American Petroleum Institute has stated the U.S. is planning to construct 29,000 kilometers of pipeline by 2018.

Since 2005, energy interests in the U.S. have drilled or received permits for 82,000 fracking wells. Much of the shale gas reserves are located in the Great Lakes area. If developed, these wells could use over 37 billion gallons of water annually. Chemicals used in these fracking operations could be a direct threat to the water in those lakes.

The expansion in the processing of bitumen and in fracking for natural gas, plus the construction of pipelines in the area of the Great Lakes and the basin of the St Lawrence River, should be of extreme concern to both American and Canadian citizens. The Great Lakes are the source of drinking water for 40 million human beings.

Leo Kurtenbach
Saskatoon
Phone-306 652 5129.