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News Release July 09, 2002

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ALBERTA ENERGY AND UTILITIES BOARD RECEIVES EVALUATION REPORT FROM THE PROVINCIAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY AND SOUR GAS

Calgary, Alberta (July 9, 2002) The Alberta Energy and Utilities Board (EUB) has received a report from the Provincial Advisory Committee on Public Safety and Sour Gas which reviews and comments on EUB actions taken over the past year on 87 recommendations made to the EUB by the Committee. These recommendations were designed to improve the regulatory system for sour gas as it relates to public health and safety in Alberta.

Entitled Evaluation of the EUBs Implementation Progress, the report notes the EUB is on target with its three year implementation plan, but as a general concern encourages improvement in performance measures, and seeks further movement on some specific recommendations.

EUB Chairman Neil McCrank said: On behalf of the EUB, I am very pleased that we have received such a positive and comprehensive assessment from the Committee, and I repeat that the EUB remains strongly committed to acting upon all of the recommendations presented to us.

The EUB has developed an effective and efficient implementation plan, and it reports on its progress to the Committee and to the public on a regular basis. In consultation with affected stakeholders, the EUB has completed work on 14 recommendations. The EUB is continuing to work on 35 more from last year, and has begun to address a further 16 recommendations this year. That leaves only 22 to still begin.

McCrank further stated, The work we are doing on sour gas today will impact the petroleum industry as a whole. The changes we are making based on the Advisory Committee on Public Safety and Sour Gas recommendations will result in a fundamental cultural shift in Albertas sour gas industry, for the benefit of all Albertans.

Sour gas is natural gas that, in its raw form, contains hydrogen sulphide, which can be toxic to humans or animals. About 30 percent of the raw natural gas produced in Alberta each year is sour gas.

Copies of this news release, the Evaluation of the EUB Implementation Progress Report and the Public Safety and Sour Gas Advisory Committee Findings and Recommendations Final Report are available on the EUB web site at http://www.ercb.ca

NR 2002-14