News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
EUB RELEASES REASONS FOR GRANTING COMPTON HEARING ADJOURNMENT
Calgary, Alberta (April 13, 2004) The Alberta Energy and Utilities Board (EUB) today released its reasons for granting a request by Compton Petroleum Corporation to adjourn an EUB hearing to consider Comptons North Okotoks Horizontal Well Program, located 1.1 kilometres east of Calgarys southeast city limits. The adjournment was granted on March 16, 2004. The hearing was set to begin on March 30.
When it considers requests to reschedule hearings, the EUB is primarily concerned with any disadvantage the participants may suffer due to a delay. In this case, since the applicant requested the delay, the EUBs primary concern was with how that request might impact interveners. After assessing the submissions made by all parties, the EUB is satisfied that interveners will not be disadvantaged by the delay. The EUB has also advised existing interveners that they may apply for additional advanced funding.
Throughout the applications process, the EUB has consistently applied the principles of fairness, impartiality and balance, and taken steps to ensure these principles are upheld for all parties. As such, the EUB wishes to elaborate on two issues.
The EUB is currently considering requests from parties to review two existing Compton well licences in the same area. The review requests are being considered separately from Comptons applications. The full EUB Board will make a decision regarding the review after considering submissions from the parties involved, including Compton.
Second, the EUB determined that the integrity of the existing pipelines and facilities near the proposed project would be considered at the hearing. This matter was raised at the pre-hearing meeting and reflected in Decision 2003-088. All parties had the opportunity to address the issue at the pre-hearing.
The EUB has directed Compton to file, with copies to all parties, a submission that addresses the pending expiry and possible extension of the Land-Use Resource Development (LRD) Agreement between Compton and landowners in the area and its view on the remaining steps and timing associated with the hearing. The EUB will reschedule the hearing following input from all parties.
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A copy of all hearing materials is located in the Fish Creek public library and at the EUBs Information Services desk. This news release, Decision 2003-088, and further information about the Compton applications are available at http://www.ercb.ca.
For more information, please contact:
Bob Curran, EUB Communications
Phone: 403-297-3392 Fax: 403-297-3757
Email: bob.curran@gov.ab.ca
NR-2004-12
