First Nations want Nexen spill cleaned up for long term – CP24.com

Published Sunday, July 19, 2015

FORT MCMURRAY, Alta. — The clean up of a massive pipeline spill in northern Alberta must be conducted with the long-term future of the land in mind, say area First Nations.

“Our biggest concern is the land,” said Byron Bates, a band councillor of the Fort McMurray First Nation, which sits about 10 kilometres from the five-million-litre bitumen spill.

Bates said the area around the spill isn’t used as much for hunting, trapping and other traditional purposes as it was before industry built up on it.

But he said those developments aren’t going to be around forever. When industry’s done, his people expect no traces to be left of events such as last Wednesday’s spill.

“In 50 or 70 years the oil companies are going to be gone,” he said. “We want to be able to use our land again.

“Our biggest concern is to make sure it’s brought back to pristine condition.”

Read more: http://www.cp24.com/news/first-nations-want-nexen-spill-cleaned-up-for-long-term-1.2477250

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