Input vital in deciding historic gas plant's future

Okotoks Western Wheel
Wednesday July 25, 2007
Vol. 32 No. 51
By Jim Dilay
Contributor
Volunteer Chair of the Resolution Advisory Panel and
a member of the Alberta Energy Utilities Board

Public input is vitally important as the Turner Valley Gas Plant Resolution Advisory Panel considers the possible future of the historic plant as a tourist attraction.

We will be using that input in developing our recommendations to present to Hector Goudreau, Minister of Tourism, Parks, Recreation
and Culture.
To provide information about our work so far, to look at what we have yet to do, and to obtain crucial community feedback, the panel held and open house at the Flare 'n' Derrick Community Hall on June 14. Panel member made two presentations to approximately 67 members of the general public. The panel presentations outlined the extent of our review of the plant clean-ups and some of our early conclusions.
The panel was very pleased that so many people came and reviewed the storyboards showing the chronological history of oil and gas development in the Turner Valley area through photographs and text.
Further storyboards displayed the management of sulphur, asbestos and mercury since the plant closed; the technology to remove hydrocarbons from the groundwater; the activities of the panel to date; and the development plan proposed for the site.
Non-technical articles describing the risk assessment process, the cleanup of the contaiminants, and the custom-designed groundwater containment and treatment system were also available. In addition, we invited the public to provide their input on the future of the historic site by filling out a survey.
We displayed a list of the numerous environmental studies and test results; the mercury management plan; and letters for Alberta Environment and the Calgary Health Region expressing their satisfaction with the risk assessment and management program undertaken. Experts from Alberta Environment, the Calgary Health Region, Stantec Engineering and Alberta Tourism, Parks, Recreation, and Culture were also present to answer questions.
In my comments introducing the presentations, I noted that all the panel members are hard-working volunteers giving generously of their time for panel and subcommittee meetings, workshops and extensive reading required. We have had excellent assistance from people with the involved government departments, agencies and consultants throughout the process.
Four members spoke for the panel. Member-at-Large Lori Czerwinski described team-building efforts to bring cohesiveness to the diverse group with varying opinions. Many questions were asked by panel members to ensure a thorough understanding on what had been done at the plant.
Turner Valley town councillor Barry Williamson gave credit to environmental risk assessment specialist Dr. Wilfried Staudt for helping the panel evaluate the risk assessment and management approach. He outlined the panel's process to assess actions undertaken by the government.
The panel's comments will form part of the background documentation that will go to the Minister as part of the final recommendation.
Black Diamond town councillor Sharlene Brown praised the technical advisor's support of the panel and explained the panel's next step is to review, and perhaps adjust, the development plan, as part of our recommendations to the Minister.
Member-at-large Joy Hinman invited audience members to add ideas - lots of ideas please, including from other historic sites-to their comments on the feedback form and certainly on the online survey.
The panel members noted that the commitment to long-term monitoring must be carried out. The panel also wanted necessary funding and assurances that any future work required for the plant be completed.
There was good discussion from the question and answer session on groundwater-related issues and how the new continament system will help protect the enviornment.
While we were glad to see such a good turnout, was want to ensure we hear from a good cross-section of the public. We ask you to go to www.turnervalley.gov.ab.ca and complete the online survey, which is available until July 15. There is a series of five short easy-to-read articles summarizing the remediations, and I encourage you to read the articles before filling out the survey.
Questions we're seeking input on include:
*understanding the remediation activities;
*importance of the historic value of the plant;
*benefits of establishing the plant as a regional historic site; and
*developing the site for tourism heritage.
Your input will assist the panel in providing its final recommendation. I'll be updating you in future articles, but for move information, feel free to call Ian Clarke in the Department of Tourism, Parks, Recreation and Culture, at 403-297-4043 or visit www.turnervalley.gov.ab.ca. The next panel meeting will be held on July 24 at 9 a.m. at the Turner Valley Council Chambers