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Bulletin 2008-10

March 6, 2008

Animal Health Complaints Involving the Petroleum Industry

The Animal Health Committee, representing Alberta Beef Producers, Agriculture and Food, Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers, Small Explorers and Producers Association of Canada, and the Energy Resource Conservation Board (ERCB) completed a review of the continued need for the protocol established in Informational Letter (IL) 2002-04: Animal Health Investigation Memorandum of Understanding. This review concluded that the protocol was not cost effective in addressing specific landowner concerns about potential animal health issues involving the petroleum industry.

Since its inception in 1995, the Animal Health Investigator has been involved in only 19 investigations (slightly more than 1 per year), only 6 of which could be directly attributed to petroleum operations. To put this in perspective, in 1995 there were 128 000 nonabandoned wells, 14 283 oil batteries, and 250 400 kilometres (km) of pipeline. In 2006, for comparison, there were 227 000 nonabandoned wells, 20 690 oil batteries, and 392 000 km of pipeline.

Based on the low number of complaints directed to the Animal Health Investigator over the last 12 years, coupled with the fact that the Animal Health Committee could not agree on how to move forward with program changes, the protocol established in IL 2002-04 will end and the ERCB will rescind IL 2002-04 effective March 6, 2008.

Landowners and petroleum companies are encouraged to work with their local veterinarians to rule out production and animal care issues. In those cases where animal health issues might arise from petroleum operations, animal health experts should be consulted by the veterinary practitioner.  ERCB inspection staff will continue to investigate all complaints for compliance with ERCB regulations.
 

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Dwayne Waisman
Energy Resources Conservation Board

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Gary Sargent
Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers

<original signed by>

Reynold Bergen
Alberta Beef Producers

<original signed by>

John Girvan
Agriculture and Food

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Gary Leach
Small Explorers and Producers Association of Canada