PDF Version

News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ERCB CONTINUES EXPANSION OF DISPUTE RESOLUTION PROGRAM

Red Deer, Alberta (October 29, 2008) The Energy Resources Conservation Board (ERCB) today released the annual summary of its Appropriate Dispute Resolution (ADR) program at the Synergy Alberta conference in Red Deer, Alberta. The ERCB is continuing to expand ADR after achieving a success rate of 92% in 2007.

The expansion will include increased ADR training, enhancing ADR materials available on the ERCB website, and providing additional resources to help resolve company-to-company disputes.

The ADR program began in 2001 to assist landowners and oil and gas companies to find solutions when disputes about oil and gas development exist. ADR is one of several options available to stakeholders to resolve issues arising from proposed or existing development. In 2007, 19 costly and time-consuming ERCB hearings were avoided by stakeholders successfully engaging ADR.

ERCB hearings are held when issues between energy companies and potentially directly and adversely affected parties cannot be resolved. ADR enables landowners and industry to successfully negotiate concerns related to proposed energy activities through the use of ERCB or third-party face-to-face mediation.

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.

- 30 -

This news release is available on the ERCB web site at www.ercb.ca.

For more information, please contact:

Darin Barter
ERCB Communications
Mobile: 403-681-0946
Email: darin.barter@ercb.ca

NR 2008-30

2007 ADR Annual Report