Public Safety and Sour Gas

In January 2000, the EUB struck the Provincial Advisory Committee on Public Safety and Sour Gas. Although established by the EUB, it was created as an independent body. Its mandate was to review and assess public health and safety related requirements being applied to the approval, development, and operation of facilities respecting Alberta's sour natural gas resources. It was chaired by a former chairman of the EUB, who was also a member of the Lodgepole Blowout Inquiry in 1983. The committee included medical professionals, representatives from the public, First Nations, rural and urban government and various other provincial departments, members of the land development industry, and academics specializing in risk research.

The committee embarked on an extensive research and information gathering process that took a full year. Papers and presentations were compiled, and two rounds of visits were made to more than 15 towns around Alberta that had direct involvement in sour gas development. Ten discussion sessions were held with various First Nations groups, and written submissions were sought from other aboriginal organizations. A telephone survey was conducted, an e-mail address and Web site were established, and the committee also welcomed phone calls, letters, faxes, and personal visits from interested parties.

In December 2000, the committee presented the EUB with the Public Safety and Sour Gas: Findings and Recommendations Final Report, which contained 87 detailed recommendations directed towards improving regulations, health and safety, and communications relating to the sour gas industry in Alberta.

The 87 recommendations were divided into five categories:

• Health Effects and Sour Gas Research
• Sour Gas Planning and Approval
• Sour Gas Operations
• Emergency Preparedness
• Information, Communication, and Consultation

This report is available on the Public Safety and Sour Gas Advisory Committee Web site at http://www.publicsafetyandsourgas.org/fnlrprt.pdf.

Upon receiving the Findings and Recommendations Final Report from the committee, the EUB immediately pledged publicly to address all 87 recommendations. More than 200 staff have been engaged in the project. As well, the EUB is actively involving numerous external stakeholders, from individuals to regional health authorities, various nongovernmental organizations, other government departments, and the sour gas industry.

By the end of 2005, the EUB expected to have about 75 of the 87 recommendations completed. The remaining recommendations are in pilot or trial projects, or are more complex, and will need more time to complete. Current status information on all recommendations can be found on the following Project Status Tables:

Project Status Tables to February 2006

Project Status Tables to July 1, 2005

Project Status Tables to December 24, 2004

 Advisory committee on public safety and sour gas evaluation of key developments in the EUB's implementation progress November 2005 (Released: November 10, 2005)

Public Safety and Sour Gas Final Report (March 2007)  Final Report for the EUB's Public Safety and Sour Gas (PSSG) Initiative (Released: June 7, 2007)

News Release 2007-06-07 (NR 2007-22) EUB Completes Groundwork for Future of Sour Gas Development in Alberta (Released: June 7, 2007)