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News Release     

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ERCB MONITORING CLEAN UP OPERATIONS AT PIPELINE LEAK NEAR LAC LA BICHE

Calgary, Alberta (July 16, 2008) The Alberta Energy Resources Conservation Board (ERCB) is monitoring clean up operations at the site of a Suncor pipeline leak about 40 kilometres north of Lac La Biche.  Initial estimates indicate that up to 1,260 barrels of diesel fuel was released.

The pipeline has been shut in and the leak is contained. The fuel is not in contact with any water bodies.

There have been no injuries, no evacuations and there is no danger to the public as a result of the release. 

The ERCB was notified of the leak at approximately 4:00 p.m., Tuesday, July 15. All other appropriate authorities and agencies have been notified.

As is normal practice, the ERCB will conduct an investigation into the incident.

The pipeline failure rate in Alberta was at a record low 2.1 failures per 1000 km of pipeline in 2007, down more than 30% since 2000 (when there were 3.3 per 1000 km).  There are 392,000 kilometres of ERCB-regulated pipeline in Alberta. In 2007, the ERCB conducted 1,647 pipeline inspections.

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For more information, please contact:
Darin Barter, ERCB Communications
Tel: 403-297-4116
Cell: 403-681-0946
email: darin.barter@ercb.ca

NR2008-18