Environmental Science, 10th Edition (Cunningham)

Chapter 19: Conventional Energy

GE Exercise: Tar Sands, Alberta

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Overview: Tar Sands, Alberta, p. 435

Canada has many tar sands (sand coated with tar-like bitumen) that are relatively close to the surface. These deposits are strip mined, and the bitumen is dissolved with hot water and detergent. Canada has become the largest supplier of oil for the United States. There are environmental costs in producing this oil. As your text points out, a typical plant producing 125,000 bbl of oil per day creates about 15 million m3 of toxic sludge, releases 5,000 tons of greenhouse gases, and consumes or contaminates billions of liters of water each year.

1
Where is this mine located?
A)Northwestern Saskatchewan
B)Northeastern Saskatchewan
C)Northwestern Alberta
D)Northeastern Alberta
E)Central Manitoba
2
What is the nearest town?
A)Pelican
B)Wabasca
C)Fort McMurray
D)Buffalo
E)Slave Lake
3
Why is it helpful to locate the mine near a river?
A)The oil extraction industry needs potable water for large workforce.
B)The oil extraction industry uses huge amounts of water.
C)The labor force can take boats and canoes to work, reducing their carbon footprint.
D)Industrial regulations require large nearby bodies of water, in order to extinguish occasional oil flare-ups.
E)Sometimes it is useful to flood the mines in order to clean them.
4
What evidence can you see of environmental impacts from this mine?
A)There is no evidence of environmental impacts from this mine.
B)Since the mine is underground, environmental impacts are difficult to see from a satellite image.
C)You can see large mine pits and tailings ponds.
D)The healthy canopy of vegetation indicates the regional environment is robustly healthy.
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