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News Release

EUB RELEASES FIELD SURVEILLANCE REPORT
Industry compliance up, pipeline failure rate down in 2004

Calgary, Alberta (May 30, 2005) The Alberta Energy and Utilities Board (EUB) has released its annual Field Surveillance Provincial Summary for 2004 (Statistical Series 57), containing information on industry compliance, EUB enforcement actions, and the activities carried out by EUB field staff. The Report shows the EUB is working to ensure that Alberta energy companies comply with the EUB's rules and regulations.

Highlights of the 2004 Report include:

• Industry's compliance rate with major EUB regulations was at 98% in 2004, up from 97% in 2003 and 96.5% in 2000. This measure is the best indicator of industry's compliance with the EUB's rules and regulations.

• The EUB carried out 15,379 inspections of Alberta energy facilities in 2004.

• The pipeline failure rate in Alberta has dropped by 27% since 2000. The number of pipeline failures per 1000 km of pipeline was 2.4 in 2004 compared with 3.3 in 2000.

• In 2004, the public registered 850 complaints to the EUB about oil and gas facilities. This is up 4% from 2003, but down 8% since 2000. EUB field staff respond to all public complaints about upstream oil and gas activities in Alberta.

• Annual sulphur emissions from Alberta gas plants have been reduced by 26% since 2000 (58,000 tonnes in 2004 and 78,000 tonnes in 2000). Since 1974, Alberta gas plants have reduced their sulphur emissions by 75% (229,000 tonnes in 1974 to 58,000 in 2004).

• The EUB suspended 118 energy facilities and operations in 2004. The EUB has suspended 734 energy facilities and operations in Alberta since 2000.

The EUB ensures that the discovery, development, and delivery of Alberta's energy resources and utilities services take place in a manner that is fair, responsible, and in the public interest.

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Brenda Poole Bellows, EUB Communications
Office: 403-297-7012
Cellular: 403-689-7944
Email: Brenda.PooleBellows@gov.ab.ca

NR 2005-10