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Informational Letter IL 85-3
22 May 1985
To: All Oil and Gas Operators
OPERATIONAL USE OF FLARE GUNS FORESTED PUBLIC LANDS
The Forest Service Division of Alberta Energy and Natural Resources has identified a major problem associated with the use of flare guns in production facilities in forested public lands.
An increasing number of fires have resulted from the indiscriminate use of these flare ignition devices at production facilities. These fires have destroyed a significant amount of forest and have caused substantial expenditures by the Alberta Forest Service. Under the Forest and Prairie Protection Act and the Forest and Prairie Protection Regulations (Part 1), sections 9 and 10, the use of flare guns is prohibited.
Therefore, the Board requires in all forested public lands that:
- the present use of flare guns for the ignition of flare stacks be discontinued, except during an emergency situation,
- all new applications for oil and gas production facilities with flare stacks must include information outlining methods for flare stack ignition, and
- by 1 September 1985, all existing production facilities must have adequate flare ignition equipment.
The Board wishes to remind operators that any fires resulting from the ignition of flare stacks are the responsibility of the company. Appropriate action including the allocation of cost and/or prosecution may be taken by the Alberta Forest Service for any such fires.
For further information regarding this matter, please contact the Production Section of the Board's Development Department at 297-8326.
[Original signed by]
E. J. Morin, Manager
Development Department
