Gas plant update pleases residents

Okotoks Western Wheel
June 20, 2007
Vol 32 No 46


By Pamela Keith
staff reporter

There were many smiles and positive comments to be found at the Flare ‘n’ Derrick last Thursday as several area residents attended an open house for the freshly cleaned Turner Valley Gas Plant.
For the past year, the Turner Valley Gas Plant Advisory Panel has worked on the public’s behalf to review the clean-up of the historic site, which has been closed to the public since November 2005 to allow for the clean-up of several contaminants and for the construction of a containment system to prevent those contaminants from entering the Sheep River.
Last week residents were invited to review the cleanup and protection efforts to date, with the majority of residents liking what they saw.
“It’s absolutely fantastic. I am actually in awe,” said long-time area resident Marianne Rountree, who would like to see the gas plant turned into a major tourist attraction. “It really has played such a great part in our history. We are not ignoring it anymore. We have dealt with the problems it has created.”
After approximately seven months of construction, the $5 million containment and groundwater treatment system at the gas plant was completed last month.
The containment system is designed to prevent hydrocarbons and other contaminants found at the site from entering the Sheep River and consists of a 650-metre erosion and protection wall that diverts groundwater to the treatment plant before entering the river.
The groundwater treatment system is a concrete corridor that captures the groundwater and carries it through a three-stage water treatment process. Once the treatment process is complete, the water is safely released back into the Sheep River free of any contaminants.
Environment Canada has already conducted water samples at the water treatment plant and confirmed the system is indeed doing what it’s meant to do.
Several other contaminants, such as asbestos, sulphur and mercury, have already been removed by Alberta Environment in part of a $2.5-million 10-year clean-up.
Turner Valley resident Donald L’Hirondelle worked at the gas plant for one summer as a student in the 1950’s.
At that time, L’Hirondelle said contaminants at the site were visible, however, it was not as big of a deal as it is today. Nonetheless, he is pleased to see the site being cleaned up and is confident it can be turned into a world-class tourist destination. “I am fully in favour of it turning into a show piece the province can be proud of,” said L’Hirondelle, who has kept an eye on the progress of the construction of the containment system.
The panel intends to have a full review at the development plan and clean-up of the site, and will provide a final recommendation to the Minister of Tourism, Parks, Recreation and Culture on the future of the gas plant.
The minister will then make the final decision on whether or not the site will and can be turned into an interpretive centre – something all panel members would like to see occur.
“I think if we develop this it’s going to be a boom to the region,” said panel member Ron Laycraft, a Foothills MD councillor. “I just think it’s going to be an excellent addition to our community.”
The panel also announced plans to put in security around the gas plant in order to protect the site from vandals.