The Praxis Group™ | Involving People.

AESRD requested the Praxis Group to facilitate two, one day back-to-back workshops in December, 2013.  Richard Roberts assisted in the process development for the two workshops and facilitated each workshop.  These were multi-stakeholder workshops consisting of all levels of government, industry, the ENGO’s and NGO’s.  Approximately 40 individuals participated in each workshop. The first workshop focused on setting water withdrawal limits for oil sands mining operations from the Athabasca River.  This workshop was fairly controversial as it set limits and triggers as to when the water volumes reached low levels that might affect the fishery – primarily in the winter months.  It placed limits on all the mining companies during these low water periods. The second workshop regarded mine site regulations for the reclamation of existing and future tailings ponds across the oil sands region.  The objective of this framework was to ensure that tailings are reclaimed as quickly as possible, while balancing environmental, social, and economic needs.