A group of Canadian oil sands producers, including some of the world’s biggest energy companies, is prepared to commit to specific environmental impact reduction targets later this month. The plan marks the first commitment by the industry consortium, which was set up two and a half years ago in response to criticism about the rapid pace of development of oil sands projects in northern Alberta’s boreal forests. “We are in a position to launch our first two performance goals within two weeks,” Dan Wicklum, Chief Executive of Canada’s Oil Sands Innovation Alliance, said Tuesday. That environmental-technology partnership, known as Cosia, brings together the R&D departments of 14 energy producers, including the Canadian units of ConocoPhillips , Exxon Mobil Corp. and Royal Dutch Shell PLC. Mr. Wicklum declined to detail the voluntary commitments, but said they apply to water use at oil-sands strip mines and in subterranean oil […]