CBC: Oilsands monitoring needs scientific rigour, panel says

A provincially-appointed expert panel is critical of environmental monitoring in the Canadian oilsands, according to a story today on CBC News:

“Monitoring organizations suffer from inadequate funding, weak scientific direction and a general lack of resources to take on the enormous challenge of monitoring,” the report states.

The panel, which makes 20 recommendations, says  Alberta should have a new “scientifically grounded system” that is managed by an arm’s length, permanent organization called the Environmental Monitoring Commission. It says the current groups in charge of environmental monitoring are not integrated and often work at cross-purposes.