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ENERGY: EUB’s breakthrough sour gas development in Alberta
            (AlbertaIndex, June 15, Friday) --- The Alberta Energy and Utilities Board (EUB) said it has completed a historic seven-year initiative that has changed the way sour gas is regulated and developed in Alberta.

            The 87 recommendations of the EUB’s Public Safety and Sour Gas (PSSG) independent committee have now been addressed. The PSSG initiative was established in January 2000 to review and assess the province's regulatory regime as it related to health and safety.
           

The committee embarked on a one-year extensive research and information gathering process, including two rounds of meetings in nine towns and 16 Aboriginal communities in Alberta affected by sour gas development.
            In December 2000, the committee presented the EUB with 87 recommendations towards a better understanding of sour gas, improving the sour gas regulatory system, reducing the impacts of sour gas on public health and safety, and improving public consultation on sour gas matters. Sour gas is natural gas containing hydrogen sulphide (H2S) which is toxic to humans and animals.
            In implementing the recommendations, the EUB has (among many other actions):
        1.    toughened rules around compliance and enforcement for sour gas development
        2.    assisted in the development of comprehensive health effects information around H2S exposure
        3.    improved coordinated planning for sour gas development in both rural and urban areas
        4.    initiated an extensive upfront technical review of all critical sour gas well applications and a 100% inspection rate for critical sour wells while drilling
        5.    launched a Customer Contact Centre manned by EUB staff to answer public questions
        6.    tightened regulations around sour gas pipelines regarding inspections and testing
        7.    created a Public Safety Group within the EUB that consists of a Community and Aboriginal Relations Section to increase                 consultation and understanding, and an Emergency Planning and Assessment section dealing with emergency response
        8.    upgraded the EUB's air monitoring unit to state-of-the art specifications and purchased a second unit. These units utilize infrared cameras that can detect volatile organic compounds.
            The EUB has also changed regulations so landowners are consulted earlier and more comprehensively than ever before by companies proposing sour gas development in their area (including creation of a landowner's guide with 40 questions the public have the right to have answered).
            There are over 6,000 sour gas wells, approximately 250 sour gas processing plants and over 18,000 km of operating sour gas pipelines in Alberta. In 2006, over 33 percent of Alberta's annual natural gas production was sour gas (1.6 trillion cubic feet).
            The EUB ensures that the discovery, development, and delivery of Alberta's energy resources and utility services take place in a manner that is fair, responsible, and in the public interest.



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