Maintaining a delicate balance

trevor.kenney — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 21:40:01 +0000

To some, the concept of environmentally sustainable economic development of the Alberta oil sands is a paradox, but to Shannon Flint (BMgt '07), executive director of the Strategic Policy and Innovation Branch with the Oil Sands Environmental Management Division of Alberta Environment, it is a responsibility.

Located in three major deposits in northern Alberta, the oil sands generate nearly 50 per cent of Canadian oil. They also generate controversy. Those who oppose the recent increase in development voice concern about greenhouse gas emissions, pollution of fresh water supplies, deforestation and danger to wildlife.

Shannon Flint (BMgt '07) works to sustain the environment while simultaneously developing the Alberta oil sands.

"Some of the biggest opposition and criticism we face is from international agencies like the Sierra Legal Defence Fund and the Natural Resources Defense Council. We are accused of a free-for-all," Flint says.

While Flint acknowledges that development certainly has an environmental impact, she is adamant that good environmental practices take place up north. As director, she creates policies and management frameworks that support environmentally sustainable development of the oil sands to mitigate the ecological impacts of this development.

"In July 2007, we implemented Specified Gas Emitters Regulation which require oil sands plants to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. We do a lot of air, water and land monitoring and have a very active reclamation program," Flint explains.

Although water usage plays an integral part in the development of oil sands, protecting Alberta's water supply is of paramount importance.

"We have rigorous standards in place for water quantity and quality. We take thousands of water samples per year, both down and upstream of the development, and we monitor groundwater as well," she says. "There is a lot of water tied up in tailings ponds that is re-used back in the operation, but we are looking at technology that will reduce tailings and let us start reclaiming these ponds."

Flint is particularly proud of the Athabasca River Water Management Framework. The framework places strict limitations on company water usage and is based on the highest level of protection for the aquatic ecosystem afforded to any major river in Canada.

"We are managing our water differently than we have in the past," says Flint. "We need to make sure oil sands development is sustainable and generate policies that look at what we have today and what we will have in the future."

Flint proving it's never too late to get a university degree

trevor.kenney — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 16:45:44 +0000

Like other successful university students, Shannon Flint had to work hard to complete her university degree. Unlike most, she took a decidedly different route to convocation.

Flint (BMgt '07), Executive Director of the Strategic Policy and Innovation Branch with the Oil Sands Environmental Management Division of Alberta Environment, balanced a career, marriage and motherhood with her schoolwork. It meant a great deal of sacrifice and falling back on a strong support system – but it was well worth it.

"There is a lot of burden on the family when you are working full time and going to school part time," says Flint. "My husband had a huge role in supporting me, and it was very good for my daughters to see me working towards my degree. They understand that education is about future choices. Of course, they also say that they'll get their degrees right after high school and not wait like I did."

The daughter of a military man, Flint spent her childhood traveling across the country. She graduated from high school in 1979 and settled in Edmonton where she still resides.

"I never thought I had the option of not finishing high school, but I never felt a whole lot of pressure to do post-secondary education. My dad had been with the military since he was 17. He grew up in the era where you got your Grade 12 and then went out to work," explains Flint.

Like her father, Flint got a job after graduating from high school. She began working as an administrative assistant in the Department of Culture in the Alberta Government.

"Although it was an interesting job, I realized it was probably not something I wanted to do for the rest of my life, so I attended NAIT part time and got a business management diploma in 1985," says Flint.

Throughout her career with the Alberta Government, Flint worked in many different departments and gained extensive experience and knowledge. From promoting the Calgary Olympic Games in the late 1980s to building policy for the regulatory side of the energy business, Flint saw all aspects of business.

Despite her professional success, Flint felt her career choices were still somewhat limited without a university degree. She began to search for a program that would fit her needs.

"I learned of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge management program from my nephew, a recent graduate, who spoke very highly of it," explains Flint. "What I really like about the program is its multidisciplinary approach. The program gives students a broad spectrum of knowledge and skills. The instructors in Edmonton had a lot of experience in the workplace and the material was relevant. The flexibility of night classes and the quality of instruction were excellent."

The knowledge she gained from the U of L program benefited Flint in many ways. It opened the door for her current directorship and changed her perspective.

"I analyze problems differently now. I even went back to my textbook on organizational change when I built my work team," says Flint. "I also look at different ways to communicate the story of the oilsands, using new media and tools such as online social networking, for more immediate communication."

One of her responsibilities, as director, is to educate the public about the environmental management systems that are in place to mitigate the ecological impact of oilsands development. Often facing heavy criticism, Flint is adamant that there are good environmental practices in place up north.

"We do a lot of monitoring. We have standards in place for water quantity and quality; we monitor the air and have an active reclamation program," explains Flint.

She continues to create policies and frameworks that support environmentally sustainable development of the oilsands, policies that look at what we have today, but also towards what we will have in the future.

UNews - Oil Sands Environmental Management Division of Alberta Environment

Maintaining a delicate balance

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