OTTAWA and CALGARY - September 19, 2008 - The Joint Panel reviewing the proposed EnCana Shallow Gas Infill Development project and EUB Application No. 1435831 for three well licenses in the Suffield National Wildlife Area in Alberta, today issued the schedule for the public hearing to begin on October 6, 2008 in Calgary and to continue in Medicine Hat. The hearing is expected to take place over a period of approximately 3 to 4 weeks.
The formal public hearing will be held in Calgary and conducted in accordance with the Alberta Energy and Utilities Board (EUB) Rules of Practice. The Panel has also implemented an informal hearing procedure to enable individuals or groups who may not be able to participate for the duration of the formal hearing to have an opportunity to offer their views on the project and ask questions of the proponent and other interveners. The procedures for the conduct of the hearing for both types of sessions are available on the Panel's web site at www.SuffieldReview.ca. The hearing schedule is as follows:
Energy Resources Conservation Board
Govier Hall, 640 – 5th Avenue SW
Medicine Hat Lodge Saamis D Room, 1051 Ross Glen Drive SE
- October 20, 2008 (Monday)
13:00 to 17:00 and 19:00 to 22:00
Members of the public are welcome to attend the hearings. Persons who did not register in advance but register just prior to or during an informal hearing session may still have an opportunity to address the Panel if time allows.
An audio recording as well as transcripts of the proceedings will be available on the Canadian Environmental Assessment Registry, under registry #05-05-15620. Submissions received throughout the review process, along with additional information on this project are also available on the above web site.
EnCana Corporation proposes to drill, over a three-year period, up to 1275 new shallow gas wells within the boundary of the Canadian Forces Base Suffield National Wildlife Area (NWA), located in Southeastern Alberta, approximately 50 km Northwest of Medicine Hat and 250 km Southeast of Calgary. The project is in addition to the existing natural gas development activities within the NWA and includes the physical works and the activities associated with the construction, operation, decommissioning, abandonment and reclamation of the shallow gas wells, pipelines, and supporting infrastructure.
The Joint Review Panel for the EnCana Shallow Gas Infill Development Project is an independent body, mandated by the federal Minister of the Environment and the Alberta Energy and Utilities Board to assess the environmental effects of the proposed project.
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Media may contact:
Lucille Jamault
Senior Communications Advisor
Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
Tel.: 613-957-0434
