Tailings are a mixture of clay, sand, water and fine silts formed during the oil sands extraction process. They are contained in ponds or settling basins, which are effective ways of managing them while they settle. Any proposal to construct a new tailings pond is thoroughly examined by technical experts from a host of regulatory bodies. Every effort is made to ensure that the design and proposed location of a pond is suitable from an environmental, resource conservation and economic point of view. All tailings ponds are constructed with groundwater monitoring and seepage capture facilities, and are closely monitored to ensure.
