Canada's Athabasca Oil Sands Region Deals With Growing Pains

摘要

In a world that is still thirsty for oil but looking to reduce its dependence on it, Canada's massive oil sands bitumen resource is both a blessing and a challenge. Growing concerns about the environmental impact of oil sands development have fueled criticism, even among locals. "They should close it down," says a Fort McMurray cab driver, referring to the nearby Suncor oil mining and upgrading project. "The smoke and the smell, right next to the highway, I don't like it," says the driver, a Serbian immigrant called Milan, who has lived in the area for more than a decade and has worked in the oil industry.