The Tar Sands of Alberta

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biggest sources of petroleum energy in the world. The Athabasca Deposit of crude oil ranks only second behind that of Saudi Arabia�s. (See Appendix A) Yearly operations grant a major boost to the Canadian Economy. With the recent events that have been taking place around the world like that of Libya, the demand has risen even further for the oil from the Tar Sands of Alberta. Increased oil prices have helped boost the Canadian Economy as a whole because of the Tar Sands operations. Alberta itself accounts for 95 percent of Canada�s total oil reserves. Canada is also the leading supplier of oil to the United States. The Tar Sands are made up of different minerals including sand, clay, water and bitumen. Bitumen is what so much money has been invested in. It is a solid form of oil that is considered �dirty� in the oil occupation. There is a long process that must be undergone in order for the bitumen to become what one might understand oil to be. This process of ...

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a highly flammable liquid, is released into the atmosphere at 100 tons per year

These are just a few environmental problems that come from a very extensive list. (See Appendix B, C) The pollution surrounding the Tar Sands is not only a problem for animals, but First Nations groups are affected as well. The public as a whole is almost completely split down the middle on whether or not they think the Tar Sands should continue operations. Fifty one percent believe in order to maintain a strong economy the Tar Sands must continue, while the remaining forty nine percent believe the effects on the environment outweigh the benefit to the economy. Through secondary research it ...

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