The Energy Resources Conservation Board (ERCB) heard a local conservationist group’s case against CNRL’s oil drilling project proposed near Minnie Lake last week at the Glendon and District Seniors Centre.
CNRL has until Friday to submit to the board its final written argument, with MLCS’s written submission due a week later. CNRL will submit a final written rebuttal by April 1.
The board panel then has three months to review evidence and expects a decision on or before July 1.
ERCB board members Jeffrey Gilmour, Rob McManus, and panel chairman George Eynon presided over the hearing.
Eynon said at the end of two and a half days that it had been an unusual hearing. He thanked CNRL for its conduct and intervener co-ordinator Coralee Beaulieu for representing the society in lieu of counsel. MLCS could not afford to pay for legal representation, Beaulieu said.
In CNRL’s opening statement on March 8, manager of exploitation Robin Zabec told the hearing that the proposed drilling of 15 wells from eight pad sites would at current rates provide the province with $11.8 million in royalties over the lifetime of the project.
If the project is not approved, the company would be prevented from exercising rights granted by the province and paid for by CNRL, he said, adding that the provincial, federal, and local economy would lose out on economic benefits of development.
“Canadian Natural has invested significant time and capital into the acquisition of the oilsands mineral leases for sections 10, 15 and 22, Township 61, Range 8, W4M. In order to realize on that investment and exercise the rights the Province of Alberta has granted under those oilsands leases, Canadian Natural must have approval from this board to drill the applied for wells and construct the applied for batteries,” Zabec said.
The ERCB granted MLCS intervener status last year after negotiations between the two parties failed.
“Although we can categorize the ways in which we may value a lake lot property or a public campground, it is much harder to separate out and categorize the feeling of place and connection that lends great emotion and motivation to those who are attempting to protect the lake,” said Beaulieu in the opening statement.
“As part of the process leading up to the hearing, we did make a commitment to set and cement 130 metres of surface casing, completely ensuring that we protect and isolate any groundwater aquifers that might be encountered in the top parts of the hole,” said CNRL spokesman Steve Lepp during a break on day one of the hearing.
“Unfortunately we weren’t able to come to any kind of resolution with the Minnie Lake Conservation Society, so we both end up at a process like this.
“Really the decision-making is taken out of both of our hands with the board, so we will participate in this and await the decision,” Lepp said.
The cost of the society’s participation in the hearing will be paid for by the ERCB or CNRL, a decision the ERCB panel will make while considering evidence, said ERCB spokesman Davis Sheremata.
CNRL will pay its own costs while the ERCB picked up the tab for the hall rental and food.
