[LookOutSugarLake] Fwd: EnCana ignores CFB Suffield Rules, Damages Sensitive Wetlands

[Wayne Cunneyworth]

FYI, more proof that BC does not have a monopoly on development threatening sensitive waterways.

Wayne

Date: Wed, 07 Mar 2007 09:58:22 -0700
 To: 
 From: AWA Media <media at albertawilderness.ca>(by way of Alberta Environmental Network <admin at aenweb.ca>)
 Subject: [AEN-List] EnCana ignores CFB Suffield Rules,
         Damages Sensitive Wetlands

         Alberta Wilderness Association
                  Media Newsletter
              http://AlbertaWilderness.ca 
 ************************************************************
 News Release: March 7, 2007

 ENCANA IGNORES CFB SUFFIELD RULES AND 
 DAMAGES SENSITIVE WETLANDS AT SUFFIELD

 EnCana failed to follow the rules of Canadian 
 Forces Base Suffield for protection of wetlands 
 while drilling, a coalition of environmental groups 
 has learned. The company drilled a well in a 
 known wetland near the federally protected Suffield 
 National Wildlife Area, and refused to remove it 
 until given an ultimatum by the Base. The groups 
 are asking the federal government to prohibit all 
 new industrial activities in the Suffield National 
 Wildlife Area.

 "Greed seems to exceed common sense and the 
 rules with these guys," says Cliff Wallis, 
 Past-President of Alberta Wilderness Association.
  "Not only did they drill a well where they shouldn't, 
 they argued to keep it in place. There seems to
  be an overblown sense of entitlement on the 
 part of this industry giant which does not bode 
 well for their proposed drilling in the National 
 Wildlife Area." EnCana is proposing to drill up 
 to 1275 wells as part of a shallow gas infill 
 program in the Suffield National Wildlife Area.

 Documents received through the Access to 
 Information Act reveal that the well was drilled 
 in a wetland clearly identified on maps in 
 Nishomoto Flats at 7-27-17-5 W4 in October 
 2004. The industry had previously been informed
  of the Base's expectations related to protection
  of wetlands. The Base Commander, upon 
 learning of the infraction, immediately requested
  the removal of the well, which was not complete
  or producing at the time; but EnCana took no 
 action. The Suffield Environmental Advisory 
 Committee, composed of representatives from 
 the Alberta Energy and Utilities Board, Alberta 
 Environment, and the Canadian Wildlife Service 
 also advised in May 2005, after visiting the site, 
 that the well should be removed.

 The Base issued three formal written directives 
 and made several verbal requests to remove the 
 well over 11 months, all which went unheeded.  
 Finally, officials from the Department of National 
 Defence told EnCana to remove the well by the 
 end of September 2005 or be barred from the Base. 
 The company argued that removing the well would
  represent the loss of a valuable asset and a 
 waste of the resource. However, the Base 
 refused to back down out of concern for the 
 impacts of drilling, pipeline installation, operations 
 and reclamation activities on the wetland. On the 
 eve of the deadline, EnCana finally removed the well.

 Federal policy on wetlands stipulates no net loss 
 of wetland function, which means zero industrial 
 activity in wetlands on federal land. Provincial 
 guidelines require a minimum setback of 100 m 
 from wetlands in the grassland region. "Wetlands 
 like this are prime hotspots for at-risk species," 
 says Julie Gelfand, President of Nature Canada.  
 "But this potential breeding ground has been 
 compromised by EnCana's lack of corporate 
 environmental responsibility." 

 "EnCana has shown a cavalier and insensitive 
 attitude towards these biologically productive 
 habitats," says Dawn Dickinson of the Grasslands 
 Naturalists. "This kind of attitude inspires no 
 confidence in the corporation's declared commitment
  to environmental protection. The Base Commander 
 is to be commended for standing firm behind his 
 ultimatum to EnCana to remove the well from the 
 wetlands. The federal government should just say 
 no to EnCana's plan for the National Wildlife Area."

 In the documents EnCana argued it only had to 
 comply with Federal and Provincial Statutes and 
 their contract rights and that the Base does not 
 have the authority to deny access due to damaging 
 environmental impacts. However the Commander 
 of the Army made it clear that individual Base 
 Commanders are accountable for the environment 
 on their Base.  A February 2005 DND Order/Directive 
 states, "Degradation needs to be properly assessed, 
 monitored and remediated. All must comply with 
 federal, provincial and local legislations. Failure 
 cannot be entertained."

 The Suffield National Wildlife Area is a 458 km2 
 protected area located inside the 2690 km2 
 Canadian Forces Base near Medicine Hat, Alberta. 
 The Suffield National Wildlife Area is an 
 internationally significant grassland encompassing 
 fragile sand dunes and sand plains. It provides 
 secure habitat for more than 1100 native prairie 
 species, including 13 federal Species at Risk 
 and 78 provincially listed "at risk" species.

 Coalition members include: 
 Alberta Wilderness Association, 
 Federation of Alberta Naturalists, 
 Grassland Naturalists, 
 Nature Canada, 
 Southern Alberta Group for the Environment, and 
 World Wildlife Fund.

 For more information, contact:
 Cliff Wallis, Alberta Wilderness Association: 
      403-271-1408,  www.albertawilderness.ca
 Dawn Dickinson, Grasslands Naturalists: 
      403-526-6443
 Daniel Casselman, Nature Canada: 
      613-562-3447, Ext 225,  www.naturecanada.ca 
 Sandra Foss, Federation of Alberta Naturalists: 
      403-932-2947, www.fanweb.ca
 ************************************************************




Wayne Cunneyworth
Cherryville, BC
wayne at cunneyworth.com
http://cunneyworth.com
 		
---------------------------------
Ask a question on any topic and get answers from real people. Go to Yahoo! Answers. 
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: /pipermail/lookoutsugarlake_sensociety.org/attachments/20070308/5d54fc43/attachment-0001.html