Martin Foy of Alberta Environment addresses Turner Valley residents at a town meeting last week on the water issues associated with the Turner Valley Gas Plant. photo by Pamela Roth

Turner Valley - Environment says gas plant not a health risk

By Pamela Roth
Staff Reporter

As angry residents began expressing their concerns to Alberta Environment about the contamination and lack of clean up efforts being done at the Turner Valley Gas Plant during a town hall meeting last Tuesday, government officials assured residents they have nothing to fear.
But after hearing the promises from one government official after another that everything at the site is currently under control, or will be soon, Turner Valley residents were starting to lose patience.
Gas Plant Committee member Roxanne Walsh was left feeling more frustrated than before.
“On some level, I could almost cry. I am so disappointed about this,” said Walsh, who was hoping to gain a stronger sense of commitment to a timeline for clean up from the government. “I think they are still in damage control. Unless you ask the deepest question, you are not going to get the answer.”
In response to a public meeting held last week in Black Diamond, where it was revealed through independent testing that low levels of methyl mercury — a neurotoxic substance that easily transmits to the brain, affecting the central nervous system — was discovered in ground water near the gas plant, Alberta Environment did some testing of its own.
Martin Foy of Alberta Environment informed the crowd of roughly 230 citizens that six samples of water were taken near Black Diamond along the bank of the gas plant and a specific spring.
From those samples, Foy confirmed a small amount of methyl mercury was discovered, but was not enough to pose a health risk to the public.
In order for it to become a health risk, Foy said a 50 kg person would have to drink 25,000 litres a day of the highest concentration found in order to exceed the EUB standards.
However, he did admit the discovery raised a lot of concern for the government and he vowed to get expert opinions, along with further samples to continue monitoring the situation.
Tests on sediment samples have also been conducted, but Foy said the government will be doing more.
“Our focus has been on the water,” said Foy, who is developing plans to treat the contamination. “We know the site is contaminated, we know the soil on the site is contaminated, so it’s important for us to monitor the water.”
Dr. Brent Friesen, medical officer of health for the Calgary Health Region (CHR), assured the public they have nothing to fear about their water or the site.
“At this time, my review of the figures does not show any concern from a health perspective,” said Friesen. “The CHR is satisfied there is no risk to the health of people using the guided paths (at the gas plant) or going into the buildings.”
Since 1987, Alberta Environment confirmed as many as 23 reports have been conducted on the site for soil contamination and air and water quality.
Those reports indicated there weren’t any hydrocarbons reaching the river until 2003. As a result of the findings, Alberta Environment diverted the Sheep River in 2004 in order to eliminate soil diversion and make room for a proposed containment system in 2006.
However, June floods caused the river to carve a new path, forcing Alberta Environment to take measures to re-divert the water back to its original channel while also putting a glitch into their timeline.
Since the province took ownership of the historic site in 1988, Catherine Whalley of Alberta Community Development assured that action is being taken to clean up the site.
“It is a priority for us. We are moving as fast as we can on this,” said Whalley. “I can’t address what happened in the past. I can only address what is happening now.”
As the list of panelists took questions from concerned members of the public, Foothills/Rocky View MLA Ted Morton, who was absent from the previous meeting about the issue, remained silent on the matter until the audience demanded that he approach the stand and comment.
During his comments, Morton assured the crowd that public health and safety was his number one priority and he would do whatever it takes to make sure the issue is addressed.
“If I haven’t solved the problem in four more years, then vote me out,” said Morton. “You’ll get 100 per cent of my efforts to make this happen in going forward.”
While the hour-long meeting may have left a sour taste in the mouths of several residents, others, including Jim McCreary of Turner Valley, walked away content with the information provided.
“I am pleased with what I heard and feel confident they are really going to go ahead and do it,” said McCreary, who is also chairman of the Turner Valley Oilfields Society. “I want to see the site developed and I want it to be a safe place. It’s a very important part of our history, and when it’s up and going, it can be a really great thing.”
Alberta Environment will continue to monitor the situation and continue the clean-up process with Alberta Community Development.

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Who are the Calgary Dawgs?

1. They play in the Western Major Baseball League that currently has 12 teams in Saskatchewan and Alberta including Edmonton, Red Deer and Lethbridge.

2. Showcases top Canadian professionals and college prospects. In terms of calibre of play, the WMBL is compared to Class A professional baseball.

3. Teams play a 36-game league schedule as well as various tournaments and exhibition games.
The Calgary Dawgs were the 2004 WMBL champions.