Greenpeace protesters targeted a waste-water pipe at a Syncrude Canada Ltd oil sands project on Thursday, demanding a halt to rising crude production in the region, which they say is devastating the environment... "While we encourage debate and dialogue about the environmental impacts of oil sands development, we do expect it to be conducted in a lawful and professional manner," Tom Katinas, Syncrude's chief executive said in a release... Heavy metals and other toxins are a byproduct when the bitumen is separated from the oil sands using water, which is sent to settle in the huge tailings ponds. Alberta regulators plan to tighten rules for the toxic ponds... Syncrude is a joint venture owned by Canadian Oil Sands Trust, Imperial Oil Ltd, Petro-Canada , ConocoPhillips, Nexen Inc, Nippon Oil Corp unit Mocal Energy Ltd. and Murphy Oil Corp.