New policy coming on urban drilling, says province, MLA makes announcement as 200 Rocky Ridge, Royal Oak residents rallied Sunday

New policy coming on urban drilling, says province, MLA makes announcement as 200 Rocky Ridge, Royal Oak residents rallied Sunday by CBC News, June 24, 2012
A drawing sits taped on to a car parked at Royal Oak Shopping Centre. If approved, the well site would be 130 metres from the centre. (Kyle Bakx/CBC) The province says it hears the concerns of outspoken residents in the northwest, who are worried about proposed oil drilling so close to their homes. A crowd of 200 residents from the community of Royal Oak and Rocky Ridge gathered Sunday in the rain to rally against the drilling of oil in the area. At the event, MLA Sandra Jansen announced to the crowd that the province will begin the process of drafting a new policy on urban areas. “Knowing that we are going to begin crafting this kind of policy, is going to have an effect on what happens to the Kaiser well here because, obviously, it should and we’re going to push to make that happen,” said Jansen No timeline exists for the initiative, although the government’s actions could halt the project. … “We are about 50 metres higher than the other homes, so the smell alone is going to increase because we’re that much higher,” she said. Residents are also concerned about the safety of drinking water, the lack of an emergency response plan and the impact on house prices.