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News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

THREE NEW BOARD MEMBERS APPOINTED TO THE ALBERTA ENERGY RESOURCES CONSERVATION BOARD

Calgary, Alberta (April 9, 2008) The Government of Alberta has appointed J.D. Ebbels, George Eynon, and Michael J. Bruni as Board Members of the Alberta Energy Resources Conservation Board (ERCB).

“Continued sustainable, responsible oil and gas development is key to Alberta and Canada’s economic well-being,” said Energy Minister Mel Knight. “The addition of these respected board members will help the ERCB respond in a timely fashion to the growing number and complexity of applications.”

J.D. (Jack) Ebbels joined the British Columbia Ministry of Attorney General in 1981 and in 1990 became Chief Counsel for the Province on the Nisga’a land claim negotiations, acting as Chief Negotiator on the file from August 1992 until his appointment as Deputy Minister of Aboriginal Affairs in 1996.  He also served as Deputy Minister Responsible for the British Columbia Offshore Oil and Gas Team, Deputy Minister of Energy and Mines, and as Special Advisor to the Minister of Health and Minister Responsible for Seniors before retiring from the public service in 2006. Mr. Ebbels is currently the Principal of Ebbstide Services Ltd.

George Eynon has over 25 years of technical and management experience in the upstream, exploration and production oil and gas sectors worldwide with a number of companies. He also has about 15 years of energy and management research and consulting experience with several organizations, including the Canadian Energy Research Institute (CERI) for the past several years. On joining CERI, Mr. Eynon assumed responsibility for the Natural Gas Research program and publications and since then has added the responsibilities of business development, media relations, and conferences and training courses.

Michael J. Bruni, Q.C. joined the ERCB in the 1970s and was appointed General Counsel in his first year with the organization. Mr. Bruni also served as the Executive Manager of the ERCB Law Branch until January 2004 when he was appointed Executive Manager of the Energy Team, which was predominantly responsible for operation and implementation of Alberta’s oil and gas regulations. Mr. Bruni has worked closely with the last five Chairs, served as counsel on numerous major hearings and inquiries, and been an Acting Board Member on a number of hearings. He received the Queen’s Counsel honour in January 2000.

"I am very pleased with these appointments," said ERCB Chairman Dan McFadyen. "The backgrounds, professional and leadership skills these three individuals will bring to the Board of the ERCB will be of tremendous assistance as we continue our mandate to determine the public interest and serve the people of Alberta.”

Board Members of the ERCB are appointed by the Government of Alberta. The appointment of Messrs. Ebbels, Eynon and Bruni brings to seven the total number of full-time Board Members, including the Chairman. Two vacancies remain on the ERCB’s Board. In addition, Acting Board Members may be appointed from time to time, offering the ERCB specific skill sets and abilities as required for specific assignments.

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

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This news release can be found at www.ercb.ca

For more information, please contact:
Bob Curran, ERCB Communications
Phone: 403-297-3392 
Email: bob.curran@ercb.ca

NR 2008-06