EDMONTON - An oilsands plant in northern Alberta has taken out full-page newspaper ads to apologize after an estimated 500 ducks died after landing on a toxic wastewater pond near Fort McMurray, Alta., earlier this week.
Syncrude Canada Ltd., which is partly-owned by Imperial Oil Ltd. (TSX:IMO), says in the advertisements that it's committed to making the necessary changes to its long-established practices to make sure a "sad event'' like this one never happens again.
The oilsands operator says it will learn from what happened, will improve its practices and will meet the public's expectations for "responsible development.''
The open letter-style ads, which appeared in several newspapers _ including the Globe and Mail _ are signed by the chief executive of Syncrude Canada Ltd., Tom Katinas.
During a media tour of the tailings pond Friday, Katinas said everyone in the company feels horrible about the incident and wants to make sure it doesn't happen again _ though migratory bird experts have suggested that the 500 ducks may represent a fraction of the birds that perish each year near the oilsands.
The company has said that noise-making cannons around the pond that normally keep birds away weren't working at the time
