Court date set in Baytex fumes case for families that were forced to vacate their homes in the Peace River area of Alberta

Court date set in Baytex fumes case by Sheila Pratt, January 15, 2014, Edmonton Journal
A group of Peace River-area families hoping to temporarily shut down an oilsands operation until fumes are dealt with will head to court in March. On Wednesday, a judge in Peace River allowed the unprecedented case to go ahead and set March 19 as the date for the Labrecque families to seek an injunction against Calgary-based Baytex Energy, said their lawyer Keith Wilson. The families, forced out of their homes by fumes that caused them serious health problems, want operations suspended at the company’s Reno site until new equipment is installed on huge storage tanks to capture vapours produced when the bitumen is heated.

The families will argue the Baytex operation is “unreasonably” interfering with their use and enjoyment of their property, said Wilson. Generally, the Alberta Energy Regulator is the authority that can order a company to shut down operations if there is an environmental or operational issue. But this case confirms that the courts also have a place in handling relations between oil companies and citizens, said Wilson. Also, the regulator says it does not have the legal authority to order a shutdown in the Baytex case, as there is a gap in the regulationsnoted Wilson.

The families were hoping for a swift resolution so they can return to the homes, but the two-month wait for the court date is fair and reasonable given the legal briefs that have to be prepared, said Wilson. Baytex spokesman Andrew Loosely said the company is “preparing diligently” for the court battle. “We’re going to respect the process and let it takes it course,” he said. Like other operators in the area, Baytex uses the relatively new cold heavy oil production with sand (CHOPS) process that augers oilsand from the ground and heats it in storage tanks before shipping. Other companies in the area capture the vapours produced with the bitumen is heated, said Wilson. [Emphasis added]

[Refer also to:

Air Pollution and Cancer Spikes linked in Alberta; Alberta’s Oil Legacy: Bad Air and Rare Cancers, Sickening carcinogens now saturate Industrial Heartland, study finds

Two studies commissioned by the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) back family’s concerns with Baytex Energy bitumen (tarsands) tank venting pollution

Where are the regulators in Alberta? Fed up with toxic fumes: families suffering ill health ask Peace River court for 8 month injunction to shut down 46 wells and 86 venting tanks owned by Baytex Energy

Several families taking Baytex (Alberta oilsands company) to court over toxic emissions; Buyout packages allegedly silence Albertans struck with industry-related cancer

Baytex Gag Order and Can You Silence a Child? Inside the Hallowich Case; Peut-on empêcher un enfant de parler? Le cas des Hallowich

Alberta to complete review on urban oil drilling, Planned well in Calgary suburb sparks controversy

Source: FrackingCanada

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