Syncrude’s commitment to reclamation
Environmental research envisions a productive future for former oil sands mine sites
The Sandhill Fen is the largest reclaimed wetland in the oil sands and the industry’s first example of reclamation over a tailings substrate.
A first time visitor to Syncrude’s oil sands operations in Northern Alberta might be surprised to see a herd of wood bison casually grazing on field grasses on the site, but they are symbolic of the company’s promise to provide a sustainable ecosystem for future generations long after its operations have ended.
Where once there was a large open pit mine, the wood bison now call it home. As more reclamation research programs evolve, Syncrude is creating an exciting future for its former mine sites.
Even before production began in 1978, Syncrude understood the scale and impact its operations would have on the existing landscape. Reclamation research programs are in place to achieve the company’s long-term vision to create a landscape equal to that which existed prior to disturbance, supporting a healthy diversity of plants and animals, and sustaining a range of land uses.