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General Bulletin GB 2000-4

February 2, 2000

STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATION ON DISPUTE RESOLUTION INITIATIVE

The Alberta Energy and Utilities Board (EUB) announces a consultation process inviting people to provide feedback to the EUB on the use of an expanded dispute resolution process that could be applied to the upstream petroleum industry.

This dispute resolution consultation initiative will particularly benefit from (but is not limited to) hearing stakeholders' viewpoints on:

• What type of a dispute resolution process should be tried and when?
• What role should EUB staff play?
• How might costs and timing be addressed?
• How should we link dispute resolution processes into the EUB application process?
• How can issues of disclosure of information, confidentiality, and enforcement be handled?

A multi-party Steering Committee will also seek input into:

• the development of processes to enhance EUB dispute facilitation, and
• the introduction of a mediation option into the EUB application process.

The Steering Committee has engaged a dispute resolution consultant to assist stakeholders with these contributions, and a report, which will incorporate this feedback, is expected by the end of March 2000. This report will then go to the Board for review and approval.

To assist stakeholders in providing input and recommendations, a Terms of Reference consultation document has been prepared and is available on the EUB web site (http://www.ercb.ca). This document lists members of the Steering Committee and provides background on dispute resolution issues as well as a discussion on various dispute resolution methodologies.

The Terms of Reference document does not represent the EUB's position on these matters, but rather a starting point for review and development. If you have any questions or to submit your comments, please contact Bill Remmer, EUB Regulatory Support, at (403) 297-8174; Stephen Smith, EUB Applications Group, at (403) 297-8306; or David Gould , Consultant, at (403) 233-2209. Comments may also be submitted to Bill Remmer (email Bill.Remmer@eub.gov.ab.ca or mail to Bill Remmer, Regulatory Support Branch, Alberta Energy and Utilities Board, 640 5th Ave. SW, Calgary, Alberta, T2P 3G4).

Deadline for submissions is February 29, 2000.

signed by

Arden J. Berg, P.Eng.
Board Member