The Energy Resources Conservation Board (ERCB) approved the CNRL application to drill 15 crude bitumen wells from eight pads near Minnie Lake with four conditions after a three-day hearing held in Glendon in March.
The Minnie Lake Conservation Society had gained intervener status from the board to gather “expert" testimony for the three-day hearing. The Minnie Lake society is considering appealing the decision through the ERCB or to the Alberta Court of Appeal.
The four conditions met mixed reviews from Minnie Lake spokeswoman Coralee Beaulieu. One condition requires CNRL to conduct cement evaluation logs of the surface casing in each well after drilling to total depth, one of the society's main requests.
“The one that was above and beyond what we had committed to throughout the hearing was running the cement (evaluation) logs," said CNRL spokesman Steve Lepp. “We still don't believe it's necessary, but we aren't surprised that that was one of the conditions."
Another condition requires surface casing to 440 metres above sea level, which CNRL expected and had committed to before the hearing.
Beaulieu said she was shocked the decision did not require a condition related to minimizing or eliminating toxic hydrocarbon gases from heated bitumen storage tanks. During the hearing, CNRL presented testimony indicating levels of toxins emitted do not present a health risk, a view contested by the society.
For the rest of the story, see the Journal on July 5 or read online spjournal.com.