Environment committee  I explained, Mr. Chair, that this is advice that goes to the Government of Alberta folks, so we abstain from commenting on a specific recommendation going to the Government of Alberta.

Environment committee  I don't have the current information right now on where they stand.

Environment committee  That's correct. Its purpose is to give advice to the Government of Alberta.

Environment committee  Our scientists are there to provide their technical expertise, which informs the multi-stakeholder analysis that CEMA then provides to the Government of Alberta.

Environment committee  At this point we're currently not giving a contribution, but we have extensive staff involvement, including chairing some committees and providing technical expertise for a number of working groups.

Environment committee  That's correct. We're helping to shape what their research is and participating in executing that research.

Environment committee  Yes, and I think the Alberta government is recognizing that by increasing the demand and the priority they give to that work, so we are increasing our effort to be further engaged in it.

Environment committee  Yes. It's the surface water working group.

Environment committee  Mr. Chair, if I could, I think Dr. Wrona could describe the extensive baseline research that Environment Canada did to answer those kinds of questions.

Environment committee  Yes, and then they have the monitoring stations beyond that point to determine whether there is leakage.

Environment committee  There is a federal interdepartmental committee on water. There are lots of working groups on water. In terms of the interjurisdictional area, particularly for Alberta, there are a number of different planning exercises and multi-stakeholder groups. Of particular interest in this one, of course, is the Cumulative Environmental Management Association work, which includes water.

Environment committee  We wouldn't have a role in the design of that, but we could get the information to the committee to describe how they are engineered.

Environment committee  No, groundwater is considered a provincial resource.

Environment committee  I just want to be clear that I understand your question with respect to in situ. Do you mean if there is an impact within the tailings ponds, but contained and not released into the environment?

Environment committee  There wouldn't be a federal trigger in that case. It would come under the provincial environmental assessment authorities.