His research in the lab and the field was published in some of the world's top journals, but that was never enough for David Schindler, who died Thursday at age 80.
What is clear is that the technique is unproven, and by conditionally approving industry plans that include it, Alberta officials are signaling they still have no idea how they’re going to clean up the waste of the oilpatch.
Legal action adds a new twist to a high-stakes saga as Trudeau's government seeks to restore public trust in federal oversight of industry in the face of fierce opposition to pipelines.
Prominent scientists are warning Alberta's environment minister that disbanding an arm's-length body that monitors the environmental impact of the oilsands is a mistake.