Data reporting includes:
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The following three data sets that have been updated annually since 2009:
-“Age of Permanent Reclamation in the Mineable Oil Sands Region”;
-“Oil Sands Mine Reclamation and Disturbance Tracking by Year, 2009-Current”;
-“Oil Sands Mine Reclamation and Disturbance Tracking by Company, Current year”.
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The historical data set "Historical Oil Sands Mine Active Land Tracking by Company, 1987-2008”.
Links to these data sets can be found below under the heading ‘Data and Resources’.
This was data previously reported on the Oil Sands Information Portal.
The data set "Age of Permanent Reclamation in the Mineable Oil Sands Region" identifies the amount of land across all oil sands mines that has been "permanently reclaimed", but has not yet been "certified" as reclaimed, by calendar year since 1971.
The data set "Oil Sands Mine Reclamation and Disturbance Tracking by Year" provides information on the status of land used by oil sands mines at the end of each calendar year from 2009 to 2025.
The data set "Oil Sands Mine Reclamation and Disturbance Tracking by Company" provides information on the status of land used by each oil sands mine, at the end of 2025.
Data is based on information submitted by oil sands mine companies through their Annual Reclamation Tracking Progress Reports.
Definitions
Age of Reclamation
The age of reclamation is calculated based on the year that the area was first considered permanently reclaimed. If previously reclaimed land is re-disturbed, the number of hectares is removed based on the year it was reclaimed so that the total amount of land at any given age is accurately reflected.
EPEA Approved Footprint
The total project area approved for development under the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act approval issued to the company.
Mine Site Footprint
Includes all areas cleared, disturbed, or reclaimed that do not fall within the definition of the Plant Site Footprint. For the purposes of annual conservation and reclamation reporting, it includes tailings ponds and tailings-related structures.
Plant Site Footprint
Plant Site is defined as the industrial plant site footprint (i.e., plant site proper). For the purposes of annual conservation and reclamation reporting, it does not include tailings ponds and tailings-related structures.
Total Active Footprint
The cumulative total area of land cleared plus disturbed plus ready for reclamation, plus soils placed, plus temporary and permanently reclaimed lands (terrestrial and aquatic). Certified lands are not included in this category.
Cleared
Areas where vegetation has been removed for the purposes of preparing the land for drainage, soil removal, overburden removal, mining, etc., but where soil has been left mostly intact and relatively undisturbed.
Disturbed: Used for Mine or Plant Purposes
Areas where, at a minimum, soil has been removed or covered by other materials and soil would be required for reclamation purposes. This category includes, for example, all areas where soil removal, overburden removal, active mining, discard placement, or material storage has occurred. End pit lakes are reported in the disturbed category.
Ready for Reclamation: No Longer Used for Mine or Plant Purposes
Areas that are no longer required for mine or plant purposes and are available for reclamation, but where reclamation activities have not yet begun.
Soils Placed (Terrestrial; Wetlands and Aquatics)
Areas where reclamation material has been placed. This includes the terrestrial and the wetlands and aquatics permanent reclamation categories. Land moves from the Disturbed category to the Soils Placed category once reclamation material is placed as per the approved Reclamation and Soil Placement Plans.
Temporary Reclamation (Terrestrial)
Areas being managed where vegetation has been seeded, planted, or ingressed, where there is an expectation that future disturbance may occur at that location.
Permanent Reclamation (Terrestrial; Wetlands and Aquatics)
Land is considered permanently reclaimed when landform construction and contouring, clean material placement (as required), reclamation material placement, and revegetation has taken place. Land cannot be listed under permanent reclamation until revegetation has occurred which is reflective of the approved Reclamation and Revegetation Plans.
Certified
Areas are certified that have received a reclamation certificate under the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act. These areas are not counted in the Total Active Footprint calculation because they are no longer active; they are returned to the Crown.
The data set "Historical Oil Sands Mine Active Land Tracking by Company, 1987-2008" is also available below on the status of land used by each oil sands mine, from 1987-2008.
The data and graph show data as far back as 1987; however, both Syncrude Mildred Lake and Suncor Base Operations started prior to that date.
Other notes on this dataset:
- Reclaimed = temporary + permanent reclamation
- Disturbed = cleared + soils disturbed
- % Reclaimed = (Disturbed / Reclaimed) * 100
- Active = Disturbed – Reclaimed
- Project start dates:
- Suncor Base Operations (Lease 86/17 only): 1968
- Syncrude Mildred Lake: 1977
- Suncor Fort Hills: 1995
- Syncrude Aurora North: 1998
- Shell Albian (now Canadian Natural Upgrading Ltd) Muskeg River: 2000
- Shell Albian (now Canadian Natural Upgrading Ltd) Jackpine: 2005
- Canadian Natural Horizon: 2004
- Imperial Kearl Lake: 2008