Alberta government lays 11 charges against CNRL oilsands company by Cailynn Klingbeil, March 7, 2014, Edmonton Journal
A major oilsands company facing 11 charges in connection to the release of hydrogen sulphide gas from a project near Fort McMurray was charged in May 2012 for a similar incident. Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. faces 11 charges under the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act, including providing misleading information [After Encana did hundreds of shallow fracs above the Base of Groundwater Protection and illegally frac’d Rosebud’s drinking water aquifers without a permit from the regulator to divert water under the Water Act, Encana told the community it had not done any fracing in the area, and likely never would because of the coulee outcropping] to the Fort McKay First Nation and failing to properly report the contravention and release to the First Nation.
In a news release Friday, the provincial government said the charges stem from an incident Aug. 2, 2012, when hydrogen sulphide gas was released from CNRL’s Horizon upgrader facility. Environment and Sustainable Resource Development started an investigation after receiving reports of high ambient air monitoring and complaints from residents of Fort MacKay. The 11 charges include release of a substance causing a significant adverse effect, failure to ensure complete combustion at the flare stack, release of an unapproved substance, and failure to report approval contraventions, providing misleading information to the director and the Fort McKay First Nation, and failing to properly report the contravention and release to the director and the Fort McKay First Nation. Each charge carries the possibility of a fine of up to $500,000, the government said.
In May 2012, the government laid three charges against Canadian Natural Resources for allegedly releasing hydrogen sulphide gas in May 2010 at the Horizons Oil Sands facility and failing to report the incident. The company is scheduled to appear in Sherwood Park provincial court June 18 on those charges. The company is scheduled to appear in Fort McMurray provincial court April 24 on the new charges. [Emphasis added]
[Refer also to:
Encana Reaches Compensation Deal for Sour Gas Leak
$250000 in community safety projects following Encana deadly sour gas leak
EnCana Corporation facing criminal charges
