• Peter Dillon, University of Trent water-quality centre.
• Subhasis Ghoshal, soil and groundwater contamination expert.
• Andrew Miall, Gordon Stollery chair in basin analysis and petroleum geology.
• Joseph Rasmussen, Canada Research Council chair in aquatic ecosystems.
• John Smol, Canada Research chair in environmental change.

Recently a peer-reviewed (University of Alberta) study by water scientist David Schindler found elevated levels of cadmium, mercury, lead and other toxic elements in the Athabasca River.

"It's the first time we've really seen the federal government step up to the plate and show a genuine interest in environmental impacts," states Pembina Institute policy analyst, Terra Simieritsch. "However, we continue to see governments approve more development in the oilsands arena, despite the fact that there are signs pointing to this type of pollution."

Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach also has begun appointing a scientific panel to review water-monitoring data from the oilsands region, however, the panel's review will not be completed until February 2011.