Calgary, Alberta (October 10, 2006) Field staff from the Alberta Energy and Utilities Board (EUB) are investigating a light crude oil leak which occurred early this morning at a Rainbow Pipe Line Company Ltd. pipeline, located 10 km southwest of Slave Lake.

Approximately 1,260 barrels (200 cubic metres) of crude oil leaked from a 24-inch pipeline. The pipeline was shut in and the spill contained, however oil from the spill has entered a creek in the area. A containment crew is on site and cleanup of the leaked oil is underway. There have been no injuries as a result of the leak, the release did not result in a fire, no evacuations were necessary and there was no danger to the public.

EUB staff are on site and, as is the normal practice, will conduct an investigation into the incident.

Pipeline failures in Alberta are rare.  The pipeline failure rate in Alberta was at a record low 2.3 failures per 1000 km of pipeline in 2005, down from 3.3 per 1000 km in 2000.  There are 373,000 km of EUB-regulated pipeline in Alberta.

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

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For more information, please contact:

Darin Barter
EUB Communications
Tel: (403) 651-9487
Email: darin.barter@gov.ab.ca

NR2006-40