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May 31, 2000 Provincial Advisory Committee on Public Safety and Sour Gas A Call for Participation NOTE TO EDITORS: The issue of sour gas development in Alberta has attracted a great deal of public attention, leading to the formation of the Provincial Advisory Committee on Public Safety and Sour Gas. If possible, please play an active role in promoting the upcoming Committee Discussion Sessions in your area, and actively report on these meetings for the benefit of your community. Calgary, Alberta (May 31, 2000) Sour gas is natural gas that contains hydrogen sulphide (H2S), a toxic gas with a rotten-egg odour. Alberta has approximately 5000 producing sour gas wells, more than 200 sour gas processing plants, and over 10 000 km of sour gas pipelines. Sour gas is also present in crude oil, which is then referred to as sour crude oil. Sour gas is found across the province of Alberta, primarily in the foothills regions, as well as in Saskatchewan and British Columbia. To identify the public’s concerns, issues and solutions related to public safety and sour gas, The Provincial Advisory Committee on Public Safety and Sour Gas is undertaking a public outreach and consultation program. The mandate of the Committee is to look at the immediate or long-term effects of short-term exposure to sour gas on human health. However, all concerns regarding sour gas and public health and safety will be noted. This open and transparent consultation program has two stages. In June 2000, "Regional Discussion Sessions" will be held at 12 provincial locations most affected by sour gas development. Through these sessions, Committee members want to gain an understanding of the public’s issues, concerns and suggestions related to public safety and sour gas. Additionally, the Committee will be conducting a consultation process with First Nations and Metis communities. Over the summer, the Committee will research the issues and explore strategies to address public concerns. Beginning in September 2000, those members of the public who participated in the Regional Discussion Sessions will be asked to review and provide feedback on a "Directions" document. This document will outline the issues presented by the public in the June sessions and provide an overview of the Committee’s suggested recommendations. After the final consultation with the public, the Committee will present their recommendation to the Alberta Energy and Utilities Board. The dates and locations for the Regional Discussion Sessions in June are: June 8 Millarville Square Butte Community Hall (Hwy
762) Pre-Register to Meet with the Committee Members of the Advisory Committee will be in attendance at each location around the province and will individually meet with members of the public or with representatives of groups or organizations. Individuals are asked to pre-register to book a meeting time. Written submissions are encouraged. To pre-register, or for further information please contact the Committee at:
Background The Advisory Committee on Public Safety and Sour Gas was established in January 2000. Through public outreach and consultation, the Committee will examine public health and safety issues associated with sour gas and the regulatory framework that is in place to deal with those issues. Based on their review, the Committee will be providing the Alberta Energy and Utilities Board with recommendations to make the regulatory framework more effective. Public input is important to the Committee’s review and will provide the foundation for their recommendations. Through public outreach and consultation, the Committee want to understand people’s concerns and hear their suggestions. The Committee’s vision is a regulatory framework that is worthy of public confidence.
The independent, multi-stakeholder Committee includes representatives from the public, industry, government, academic institutions and experts in risk management and public health. The list of Committee members is attached along with biosketches for each member. Praxis, an independent, Calgary and Edmonton based consulting company, along with selected EUB staff are supporting this process. While the EUB staff provides assistance to the Committee, all of the Committee members are independent of the EUB. In its Terms of Reference, the committee has listed its desired outcomes as being:
The Advisory Committee’s Website, (www.publicsafetyandsourgas.org) is now in operation and is being constantly updated. This news release is also available on the Committee Web site at www.publicsafetyandsourgas.org For further information please contact: Gerry DeSorcy Chairman Tel: (403) 297-8855 (For toll free long distance calls: Dial 310-0000 then dial 297-8855) Fax: (403) 297-8114 (For toll free long distance fax: Dial 310-0000 then dial 297-8114)
Members / Constituency Represented Gerry DeSorcy Chairman Paul Jackson Public-at-large Brian Winter Public-at-large Judith Bugg Public-at-large Randy Gossen Oil and Gas Industry Frank George Oil and Gas Industry John Squarek Oil and Gas Industry Bob Clark Land Development Industry Robert Ollerenshaw Land Development Industry Kevin McLeod Alberta Health and Wellness David Spink Alberta Environment Maureen Bolen Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural Development Cindy Miller Reade Alberta Municipal Affairs, Local Government Services Ron Wolsey Alberta Municipal Affairs, Disaster Services Dan Clarke Alberta Human Resources and Employment Brent Friesen Regional Health Authorities Bart Guyon Alberta Association of Municipal Districts and Counties Barry Virtue Alberta Urban Municipalities Association Marjorie Young City of Calgary Administration Steve Hrudey University Risk Research David Wilson University Risk Research Regulatory Observers Arden Berg Alberta Energy and Utilities Board Rob McManus B.C. Oil and Gas Commission Regulatory Support Harry Lillo EUB, Regulatory Support Branch David DeGagne EUB, Regulatory Support Branch, ES&TS Greg Gilbertson EUB, Regulatory Support Branch, Communications Danielle Brezina EUB, Law Branch Cliff Supernault EUB, Regulatory Support Branch, Advisor - BIOSKETCHES - Gerry DeSorcy - Chairman Gerry DeSorcy is a Regulatory Consultant with 45 years experience at technical and administrative levels. He spent 38 years with the Alberta Energy and Utilities Board (EUB) and the Natural Resources Conservation Board (NRCB) and was extensively involved in policy development and application of policies regarding technical, conservation, business and environmental issues and sustainable development. He worked at many levels throughout the EUB organization dealing with all aspects of regulation, and was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at the time of his retirement. Since his retirement from the EUB, Mr. DeSorcy has consulted on a variety of general, legal, policy and technical oil and gas and environment related regulatory issues for governments and private companies in Canada and elsewhere. In this capacity, he has provided advice on the development of a number of regulatory systems. Mr. DeSorcy also developed and lectured in a credit course on oil and gas regulation at the University of Calgary. Paul C. Jackson - Public-At-Large Paul is a Professional Geologist with 32 years of oil and gas exploration experience including many sour gas exploration projects. He graduated form the University of Calgary with a BSc in Geology. He worked for Amoco Canada, then Canadian Hunter and as V.P. of Exploration for Co-enerco before commencing self-employment with his own consulting company. Recently, Paul has participated as co-chairman of a public intervenor group to a sour gas well proposal and is currently involved in a multi-stakeholder review group dealing with an AEUB conditional decision. He is also an active community participant and is the current President of the Bearspaw-Glendale Community Association. Paul’s exploration background, his experience as an intervenor, his community experience as well as his rural upbringing place him in a unique position to contribute as a member of the public to the Advisory Committee. Brian Winter - Public-at-large As a senior employee, Brian joined the Town of Cochrane in 1979. He as a Kinesiology degree ( U of C) and a Diploma in Emergency Paramedical Care from S.A.I.T., and has worked in the emergency responder field for 25 years. For 16 years, Brian serviced as Fire Chief for the Town. He currently is employed as Fire Marshall and DDS for the Town. Brian as a great interest in Disaster Planning and was heavily involved in the 1988 Calgary Olympic Disaster Plan. Brian is the founding member of the Cochrane Operators Pipeline Committee that meets monthly to discuss and promotes safety in the Cochrane area. His fire safety knowledge has contributed to the promotion of a safe environment in Cochrane. Brian has testified as an expert witness in a number of court cases dealing with arson fires. He has good listening and communication skills. Judith Bugg - Public-at-large Raised on a farm in Central Alberta, she began hobby farming in 1975. She and her husband moved to Edson in 1990, where they developed a full time cow/calf operation, raise paint horses and have been raising of elk since of 1998. Judith’s experience in working with the public is varied. Her volunteer work includes: minor hockey, figure skating club, Safe Grad programs, Treasurer for the Yellowhead Reform Party Constituency Association, and Office Manager for Cliff Breitkreuz M.P. in the 1997 Federal Election Campaign. Judith has a diverse professional background including: secretary for Principal of Elementary School, Tax preparation, bookkeeping, and financial consulting with an Accounting firm, Co-owner/operator of a Sheet Metal business contracting work all over Alberta, Manager of Sylvan Lake Housing Authority (Government subsidized housing program), Constituency Assistant for Cliff Breitkreuz, M.P., and farming. Randall G. Gossen - Oil and Gas Industry Dr. Gossen has 26 years experience in the oil and gas industry. Prior to commencing his career in oil and gas, Dr. Gossen worked as a biologist with the Colombian government. Upon graduation with a PhD in Soil Microbiology from the University of Calgary in 1973, Dr. Gossen spent 4 years with Canadian Arctic Gas Study Ltd. with responsibility for directing the environmental studies for the proposed northern pipeline including a 2-year assignment in Washington, D.C. during the regulatory hearings before the Federal Power Commission. Dr. Gossen then spent 14 years with Imperial Oil Ltd. completing numerous assignments including regulatory affairs responsibility for both the Cold Lake and proposed OSLO heavy oil developments; responsibility for developing the long range outlook in corporate planning; corporate manager environment, health, safety and risk management; manager of ESSO's Cold Lake heavy oil facility and a 2-year secondment to the federal department of Energy, Mines and Resources under the Executive Interchange Program. Dr. Gossen joined Canadian Occidental Petroleum Ltd. (CanadianOxy) in 1991 and is currently Division Vice President for Environment, Health and Safety with corporate responsibility for all of CanadianOxy's oil and gas and chemicals operations domestically and internationally. This role includes management responsibility for the corporation’s Integrity Program. In addition to his corporate due diligence responsibility, Dr. Gossen has considerable experience and expertise in strategic planning and has facilitated the development of strategic plans for the Environment, Health & Safety Department, Marketing, Law Department, Canadian Oil & Gas Division as well as numerous external organizations. Dr. Gossen has a deep interest in issues related to environmental and social justice and recently led a multi-sectoral business group in the development of an "International Code of Business Ethics for Canadian Companies". Dr. Gossen has considerable experience with regulatory agencies in Canada, the U.S.A., Europe, South America, the Middle East and the former U.S.S.R. He was invited by the former Soviet government to provide environmental advice on the handling of environmental concerns in the Western Siberian Basin. Dr. Gossen is currently Chairman of the Business & Environment Advisory Board of the Conference Board of Canada, a past Board Member and Vice Chairman of the Arctic Institute of North America, a member of the Environment Committee of the Board of the Calgary Airport Authority, a past Co-chair and Director of the Alberta Ecotrust Foundation, Chair of the Canadian Chlorine Coordination Committee, a Director of the Environmental Law Centre, a founding member of the Environment Committee of the Alberta Professional Engineers, Geologist and Geophysicists Association and a member of the Advisory Council to the Faculty of Graduate Studies at the University of Calgary. Dr. Gossen is also an active participant in the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers, the Canadian Chemical Producers Association, the International Petroleum Industry Environmental Conservation Association and the Chlorine Chemistry Council in the U.S.A. Dr. Gossen has recently coordinated industry participation in the development of a new Chair in Risk Communication at the University of Calgary. Dr. Gossen has been involved with the World Petroleum Congress for about 10 years. He was the Chairman of the Environmental Forum of the 1994 World Petroleum Congress in Stavanger, Norway and presented a Review and Forecast paper at the 1997 World Petroleum Congress in Beijing. Currently he is heavily involved in the planning for the 16th Congress of the WPC to be held in Calgary in June 2000. He chairs the Canadian Organizing Committee’s Program Arrangement Committee, is a member of the Canadian National Committee of the WPC and represents Canada on the WPC’s Scientific Program Committee. Frank George - Oil and Gas Industry Frank recently joined the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) on a secondment from Shell Canada Ltd. He will take the lead on behalf of CAPP in the Sour Gas Safety Review as well as coordinate CAPP activities in the areas of gas plant grandfathering and flaring reduction implementation. He has a B.A.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering (UBC) and a M.B.A. (U of C). Frank has a broad range of experience with Shell including North Sea and Sarnia refining operations, but his focus during his 24 year career has been on sour gas development and operations in Alberta and Northeast BC. Robert F. Clark - Land Development Industry Bob Clark has worked in the Development Industry for 23 years as a builder, an engineering consultant and as a land developer. A native Calgarian, Bob holds a degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Calgary and a diploma from the Banff School of Advanced Management. In 1981 he commenced employment with Costain Limited, a land development and housing company with responsibility for several projects in the Calgary and Edmonton areas. In 1989 he joined Carma Developers Ltd. and has worked on the development of several projects in the Calgary area; notably McKenzie Lake, Mountain Park and McKenzie Towne. He is currently responsible for the development of Carma’s communities in North Calgary. Bob maintains professional memberships in the Association of Professional Engineers, Geologists, and Geophysicists of Alberta, The Urban Land Institute, The Engineering Institute of Canada, The Canadian Society for Civil Engineering, The Congress of New Urbanism and the National Town Builders Association. He is a former Chairman of the Calgary Chapter of the Urban Development Institute and is currently the Past President of the Urban Development Institute of Alberta. Bob is married with three children and enjoys skiing, hiking, backpacking, tennis, running and sailing. Robert Ollerenshaw - Land and Development Industry Robert Ollerenshaw oversees his family’s farming and ranching operations, land development ventures, and operates an architectural design firm. Currently he is involved in a residential development project in partnership with Hopewell Residential Communities to develop their joint land holdings in southeast Calgary. His farming and ranching background, combined with land development experience, allows him to provide a unique contribution to the advisory committee from both landowner and developer perspectives. Robert’s understanding of the sour gas industry has been gained by participating at many Board hearings and inquiries related to the development of sour gas facilities in southeast Calgary. This experience has broadened his understanding of the sour gas industry and the impact it may have on public safety, environmental concerns, and the interests of surface owners. Robert has a Masters Degree in Environmental Design (Architecture), from the Faculty of Environmental Design, University of Calgary. Kevin McLeod - Alberta Health and Wellness Kevin has been with Alberta Health and Wellness for the past ten years. He is currently a Senior Strategy Lead in the Population Health Strategies Branch of the Health Strategies Division in the area of environmental health. Previous to this Kevin was a public health inspector for a rural health authority and Director of the Environmental Health program for 15 years. Kevin is actively involved in a number of key national and provincial environmental health initiatives including food safety, bottled water and packaged ice, air quality and climate change. He also teaches a course in Population Health, Promotion and Education at the Concordia University College. David Spink - Alberta Environment An environmental engineer, David has over 25 years experience in municipal, federal and provincial pollution control and environmental protection. He has a B.Sc. and M.Sc. in engineering from the U of A and has spent most of his career working in the environmental regulatory field. David has experience in both the development and implementation of regulatory programs. For five years he was the Director responsible for the issuance of the Alberta Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act approvals for industrial and municipal facilities in the province. His areas of expertise are environmental regulatory systems, environmental standards and pollution control technologies. David has a strong interest in the public health protection aspects of pollution control and for several years chaired the Federal-Provincial Committee responsible for the Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality. He believes the Advisory Committee has a unique opportunity to influence the future direction and form of the EUB’s regulatory system for managing sour gas and public health and safety issues. Maureen Bolen - Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural Development Maureen has worked with Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural Development for twenty-five years in various positions and locations across the province. She has a Bachelor of Science degree and in the past assisted farm families with farm accounting as well as succession and ownership planning. Presently, she works with agriculture organizations and groups in the areas of leadership, organization and rural development. She assists agriculture leaders in planning, needs assessments, strategic and market planning and evaluation. Acting in a facilitation role, Maureen helps teams and groups work more effectively together to achieve their goals and the goals of the agriculture industry. She has experience in program development, human resource management as well as public consultation. Maureen has considerable knowledge of the agriculture industry and the "human" side of farming. Cindy Miller Reade - Alberta Municipal Affairs, Local Government Services As Planning Advisor, Cindy started with Municipal Affairs in 1999. She has a B.A. (Psychology and Geography) from the University of Guelph and a B.A.A. (Urban and Regional Planning) from Ryerson Polytechnical Institute. Currently, Cindy provides land use planning advice and explains planning and land use based legislation and its applications to individuals, municipal officials and administrative staff. She also works in conjunction with other provincial ministries on initiatives related to land use. Cindy’s interest in alternative dispute resolution is also of value with the Intermunicipal Dispute Resolution Initiative. Prior to joining Municipal Affairs, Cindy worked with various municipalities (Morinville, Edmonton, Parkland County and the former South Peace Regional Planning Commission) in various levels of responsibility as a planner. She has written municipal development plans, land use bylaws, amendments to these documents, prepared and audited grant proposals, reports, discussion and position papers relating to land use and legislation. Ron Wolsey - Alberta Municipal Affairs, Disaster Services Ron was born and raised in Hamilton, Ontario. Prior to joining the Alberta government, he spent twenty-five years with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. He was stationed in Saskatchewan, British Columbia, Ontario, New Brunswick, and Alberta. While stationed in Eastern Canada, Ron attended the University of New Brunswick, where he received a Management Certificate in Business Administration. He retired from the R.C.M.P. in 1982 to accept a newly created position with the provincial government. As Executive Director of the province's dangerous goods control program, he designed and implemented an initiative which promotes public safety on Alberta's highways through the safer handling and packaging of dangerous goods being transported and through an improved response capability by emergency responders if an accident should occur. In June of 1990, Ron assumed his current position, Executive Director of Alberta Disaster Services. This organization is the provincial authority responsible for the development and coordination of the province's emergency plans. They also assist municipalities in developing, updating and exercising their municipal emergency plans and they administer delivery of Alberta's Disaster Recovery Programs. Dan Clarke - Alberta Human Resources and Employment Dan is currently the Manager, Legislation, Policy and Technical Support Services for Alberta Human Resources and Employment Dan is a fully qualified Occupational Hygienist with comprehensive experience in conducting field surveys in air quality, noise, and other workplace health and safety hazards. He holds a Certified Industrial Hygienist designation from the American Board of Industrial Hygiene and a Registered Occupational Hygienist designation from the Canadian Registration Board of Occupational Hygienists. For the past four years, Dan has been Manager of a multidisciplinary team of professionals who provide technical and policy support in the following areas: Mine Safety, Radiation Safety, Occupational Health Nursing, Occupational Medicine, Occupational Hygiene and Safety Engineering. Examples of recent major initiatives include:
Dan holds a Master of Health Science (Occupational Hygiene) - University of Toronto and an Honours Bachelor of Science (Chemistry) - University of Waterloo Brent Friesen - Regional Health Authorities Dr. Brent Friesen is the Executive Director of the Quality Care and Health Information Directorate for the Calgary Regional Health Authority. Dr. Friesen oversees several areas, including quality improvement, health systems analysis, and health information. Dr. Friesen did his specialty training in Community Medicine at the University of Manitoba. He has an appointment as Clinical Assistant Professor in Community Medicine with the Department of Community Health Sciences at the University of Calgary. He holds fellowships in Community Medicine and Preventive Medicine. Prior to joining Calgary Health Services and, subsequently the Calgary Regional Health Authority, Dr. Friesen was Regional Medical Officer of Health for Southwestern Manitoba. Timothy Lambert - Regional Health Authorities Tim received my PhD in Public Health Science from the University of Alberta in 1998. His research area was ethics and public health practice and communication. Tim is employed at the Calgary Regional Health Authority as ‘risk assessment specialist’. His sour gas related duties entail evaluating risk assessments and emergency response plans for sour gas developments. He represents the regional health authority in AEUB hearings. In the last year, Tim has begun working with other regional health authorities in evaluating sour gas developments. Prior to attending university, he spent 2 years in the oil patch working on a seismic drill. Tim spent 3 years with the Canadian Armed Forces with the field engineers, and trained in emergency response. Bart Guyon - Alberta Association of Municipal Districts and Counties Bart Guyon is a farmer/rancher in the Drayton Valley area, where he owns and operates a 3000 acre diversified ranch, concentrating largely on bison, elk and deer ranching. His background also includes professional certification as an Electrician and as an Instrumentation Mechanic. Mr. Guyon was first elected as Councillor in the Municipal District of Brazeau in October 1992, and was subsequently re-elected in 1995. He served as Reeve of the Municipal District from 1996 through 1998, and as Chairman of the provincial Reeve’s Association during the same period of time. Since November 1997, he has served as Vice President of the Alberta Association of Municipal Districts & Counties. Through the AAMD&C, he also represents rural Alberta municipalities on a number of provincial Committees and advisory boards, including Alberta Environment’s Pipelines Task Force, the Electric Utilities Advisory Committee, and the Joint Property Tax Council. Barry Virtue - Alberta Urban Municipalities Association As Mayor of the Summer Village of Birchcliff, Barry represents the 50 plus Summer Villages throughout Alberta on the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association's (AUMA) Board of Director's , and is the AUMA representative to the PS&SG Advisory Committee. Barry is a graduate of the University of Manitoba and is a Professional Geophysicist (ret.). Prior to retirement, Barry spent over 40 yrs with industry and government in Alberta, with the latter part of his career emphasizing environmental and socio-economic issues related to oil and gas industry development. Experience in these areas included work in the Yukon, NWT and Nunuvut; East Coast Offshore, B.C. Offshore, Sask. and Alberta. Barry has had considerable experience addressing regulatory issues in the environmental and socio-economic areas at the Territorial, Provincial and Federal levels. He has served on several Provincial and Federal advisory committees and task forces related to these matters. Steve Hrudey - University Risk Research Steve Hrudey is Professor of Environmental Health Sciences in the Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Alberta, where he specializes in research and teaching about environmental health risks. He is the author of more than 100 technical papers and reports and reports on environmental issues and has co-authored books on Risk of Death in Canada - What We Know and How We Know It, and on Bioavailability in Environmental Risk Assessment. Dr. Hrudey currently supervises graduate student research on environmental decision-making, risk communication and exposure assessment of environmental contaminants. David Wilson - University Risk Research David Wilson has been a Professor in the Mechanical Engineering Department at the University of Alberta since 1971. His research on pipeline rupture release rates and dispersion of toxic gases is now part of land use and emergency planning models in Canada and the USA. He is the author of a book on concentration fluctuations in plumes and more than 100 technical papers and reports. Dr. Wilson currently teaches both undergraduate and graduate courses in fluid mechanics, engineering design, environmental engineering and measurement systems. John E. Squarek - P.Eng., MBA Mr. Squarek has a B.Sc. in Petroleum Engineering (University of Oklahoma) and a Masters Degree in Business Administration (Adelaide University, Australia). Currently Mr. Squarek is the President and CEO of Dynamix Corporation and Oasis Energy Inc.. Mr. Squarek has over 30 years experience both nationally and internationally in the oil and gas business during which he spent several years in sour gas exploration and production. Mr. Squarek is a director of the Small Explorers and Producers Association of Canada (SEPAC) and of the Clean Air Strategic Alliance (CASA). Through CASA he has been involved with Benzene Reduction, Solution Gas Flaring, Acidifying Emissions and Animal Health project teams. Marjorie Young - City of Calgary Administration |
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