| Compton misses deadline for sour gas well plan
Compton Petroleum will not be able to drill its four controversial sour gas wells right outside Calgary’s southeast city limits because the company didn’t meet its deadline to submit an emergency response plan (ERP) to the Alberta Energy and Utilities Board (EUB).
There was widespread opposition to the sour gas wells because they would have contained a high level of hydrogen sulfide, which can be lethal. At a lengthy public hearing, the Calgary Health Region, the City of Calgary, community associations located near the proposed wells and nearby landowners fought the application but the EUB still approved it with conditions. The Calgary Health Region then applied to the Alberta Court of Appeal to ask that the EUB decision be overturned unless Compton addressed its concerns.
Compton was granted one extension to the EUB’s deadline for an ERP, but its second request in December was denied.
Derek Longfield, vice-president at Compton, says the application was likely the toughest that any oil and gas company in Calgary has ever faced.
"It’s certainly problematic for industry to think they can drill anywhere near an urban centre when you have this kind of controversy surrounding it," says Longfield.
Richard Sherback, spokesperson for the Coalition of Concerned Communities, says he’s "elated" that the "very, very dangerous project" isn’t proceeding.
"I can’t believe we won. This is great news," he says. "Our communities are now safe places to raise our families…. Good beat evil as it were.
"It’s great and I’m really appreciative of the health authority and the city. They gave it the attention it deserved and they didn’t buckle."
Compton could still reapply to drill the wells in the future, but would have to start the approval process all over again.
All-candidates Election forums get underway
The federal election campaign appears to be finally gaining some steam now that the holiday season is over.
Friends of Medicare and Public Interest Alberta are hosting an election forum on January 10 in which representatives of the Conservative, Liberal, NDP and Green parties will be asked questions about their position on health care. The forum is at the Epcor Centre’s Engineered Air Theatre from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
There will also be an all-candidates forum for Calgary Centre-North on January 19 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m at the Wild Rose United Church, and an all-candidates forum for Calgary Southeast on January 6 at the Mid-Sun Community Centre, as well as on January 14 at the McKenzie Lake Community Centre, January 17 at the Lake Bonavista Community Centre and January 20 at the Acadia Community Centre. All Calgary Southeast forums will run from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Annual ArtsJam focuses on violence against aboriginal women
The Calgary chapter of Amnesty International’s annual ArtsJam will showcase a campaign aimed at drawing more attention to the high number of murdered and missing aboriginal women.
Last year, Amnesty International released a report that found Canadian police don’t properly investigate cases involving aboriginal women and media coverage is often nonexistent or biased. The report said all levels of government have to do more to address the root causes of violence against aboriginal people and it called on police forces to change to the way they investigates cases.
Natalie Odd of the Calgary chapter of Amnesty International says people will be able to sign letters calling on the government to take more action on the issue.
ArtsJam is an annual event aimed at raising awareness about the organization and the issues it champions. It will take place at the Pumphouse Theatres on January 7 at 7:30 p.m. and feature an arts exhibit, including work from Ghana artists, and performances by Woodpigeon and John Wart Hannam. Admission is by donation.
Correction
In the article "Window gazing" in the Visual Arts section of the December 22, 2005 issue, the photo should have been credited to Michael Lipsett. |
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