View PDF file
News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
EUB COMPLETES INVESTIGATION INTO DRAYTON VALLEY ODOUR COMPLAINTS
EUB to intensify monitoring and inspections in the area
Calgary, Alberta (May 22, 2007) The Alberta Energy and Utilities Board (EUB) has completed its investigation into a series of odour complaints in the Drayton Valley area that started on January 14, 2007, and has prepared a public report on the incident.
From very late on January 14 to mid-morning on January 15, 2007, the EUB Drayton Valley Field Centre received a total of 49 complaints of sporadic hydrogen sulphide (H2S) odours west of Drayton Valley and north of Lodgepole over an area of about 48 square kilometres. At no time during the incident was public safety adversely affected. The highest peak reading (the highest reading detected over a 15-minute period) of H2S recorded by an EUB air monitoring unit during the incident was 170 parts per billion or 0.17 parts per million. In Alberta, the established Occupational Exposure Limit is 10 parts per million for eight hours.
Following the initial complaint call and for the next three days, significant resources were utilized, and actions taken in attempting to determine the source of this odour. All sour facilities in the search area were inspected by ground, by air, or both. All of the available manpower of the EUB's Drayton Valley Field Centre and 10 local energy companies in the area were utilized in the search. Other resources included three helicopters equipped for emission detection, a fixed-wing aircraft, stationary Air Monitoring Units (AMU's), five mobile AMU's, snow machines, and a portable meteorological tower.
Although a few minor maintenance issues were identified at remote locations during the search and promptly addressed, these were not considered to be the source of the odours. In addition to the ground and air search, the EUB conducted a comprehensive investigation and records search. However, the source of the odour could not be determined.
During the search, the EUB established communication links for notification and status updates, when available, with Emergency Management Alberta, Alberta Environment, Town of Drayton Valley, Drayton Valley Hospital, David Thompson Health Region, Capital Health, West Central Air Shed, Parkland County, Yellowhead County, Brazeau County, local and provincial media, the animal health investigator, and each member of the public who registered a complaint or concern with the EUB Field Centre.
The EUB has made plans to intensify monitoring and inspections in the general area south and west of the Town of Drayton Valley and will continue to watch for anomalies while carrying out its regular duties.
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.
-30-
For more information, please contact:
Darin Barter, EUB Communications,
Phone: 403-681-0946, darin.barter@eub.ca
NR 2007 - 19
