Keep in mind that
Lonnie Saken works for Bonavista:
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“This is a government of the people, by the people and for the people no longer. It is a government of corporations, by corporations, and for corporations.”
RUTHERFORD B. HAYES
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Above image source: Texas Sharon
Alberta lawyer Kieth Wilson also settled & gagged the Peace River area families poisoned by Baytex
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Slide above by Dr. Larysa Dyrszka
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AER’s (and thereby the Alberta NDP government’s) very own outside legal counsel, Glenn Solomon’s settle & shut up advice to a frac poisoned farm family at Ponoka:
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Slide from Ernst presentations
Alberta dairy farm settles with energy company over chemical contaminant by Bob Webber, The Canadian Press, November 14, 2016, BOE REPORT
EDSON, Alta. – An Alberta farm family has reached a settlement with an energy company that tainted their land with chemicals.
Bonavista Energy (TSX:BNP) has also been ordered by the Alberta Energy Regulator to begin extensive soil and groundwater remediation for the Saken dairy farm near Edson.
“Ronald Saken, Lonni Saken and Bonavista Energy Corp. have been diligently working together to address that impact and have reached an agreement that is acceptable to both parties,” said a statement from the Saken’s lawyer, Keith Wilson, on Monday.
“This has been a difficult situation and the parties are pleased to resolve the matter between them.”
The fight began in 2014 when the Sakens began having issues with the water on their farm, which has been in the family since 1929. The problem was traced to a nearby gas plant, which had been purchased in 2010 by Bonavista.
Bonavista’s own experts found that during the previous ownership, a toxic chemical used in treating sour gas had leached into the soil. That contaminated well water and caused a dramatic loss in milk production as well as health problems in people and cattle.
The Sakens argued the contamination destroyed their farm’s value. Plans to bring their son into the operation and expand the farm were cancelled.
Bonavista drilled a new well, but that water was highly alkaline [AND DANGEROUSLY CONTAMINATED WITH METHANE]. The energy regulator ordered the company to truck enough water to the farm for the family and the dairy operation.
The company took the regulator to court and the Sakens filed their own suit, which sought to have their farm declared a contaminated site.
Monday’s settlement ends both legal actions. Details of any financial settlement were not released.
Bonavista, however, is obliged to undertake extensive cleanup operations. The company has until 2020 to remediate all contaminated soil on the farm. Such cleanup usually means removing it and replacing it with fresh soil.
It must also come up with a way to fix the groundwater problems by the end of April. The water must be restored to its previous quality by September 2031.
Wilson said the Sakens will continue to receive trucked water until the end of the month. [Then what? Sulfolane contaminated water to drink and bathe in, and for the dairy herd? ]
The Sakens remain on the land and hope to stay there, Wilson added. “The Sakens are pleased.” [Emphasis added]
[What about the other families to be harmed or already are being harmed by Bonavista’s toxic contamination?]
Alberta energy company, farm owners reach settlement over contaminated land by Global News with files from The Canadian Press, November 14, 2016, Digital Cameras Planet Blog
A Calgary-based energy company has reached a settlement with an Alberta family, two years after the family alleged its farmland was contaminated by chemicals. A joint statement was put out by Bonavista Energy Corporation and the Saken family on Monday.“In March 2014, Bonavista discovered a historic sulfolane release that pre-dated Bonavista’s ownership of the South Rosevear Gas Plant,” the statement said. “The release impacts a groundwater aquifer beneath the plant and the Saken dairy farm.” [And how many other families and farms?]
Two years ago, Ron and Lonni Saken said they were told their farm near Edson, Alta. – which has been in their family since 1929 – was contaminated by a solvent used in the treatment of sour gas.
On Nov. 9, 2015, Tom Vernon filed this report about an Alberta farm family who said their lives were on hold after their land was contaminated by a nearby gas plant.
Bonavista has said its studies showed the leaching started years before it bought the gas plant from Suncor. Experts have estimated the area groundwater would not be safe to use for about 10 to 30 years and as a result, the contamination prevented the Sakens from selling their farm or borrowing against it.“
Bonavista has delineated the impacted area and has commenced a remediation and risk management plan that has been approved by the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER),” the statement said.
The family had been lobbying the AER to force Bonavista to the negotiating table in order for them to be compensated for the contamination.
Details of the deal reached between the Saken family and Bonavista were not made public but both sides said the issue “has been a difficult situation and the parties are pleased to resolve the matter between them.” [Emphasis added]
Alberta dairy farm settles with energy company over chemical contaminant by Bob Webber, The Canadian Press, November 14, 2016, Global News
[Refer also to: