By Melanie Robinson

 FORT ST. JOHN – A local committee is working to solve issues surrounding the oil and gas industry.

 The committee, which encompasses community leaders, concerned groups, government, petroleum companies, representatives of the industry, emergency planners and Northern Health, met on Feb. 24 to discuss those issues and possible resolves.

 The focus of the meeting, said Dr. Charl Badenhorst, the Northeast Medical Health officer, was around four important topics – emergency planning, improving transparency, air quality monitoring and ensuring health information is available to the public.

 “We would like to see it done safely so that we are all comfortable. From my point of view I would like to know if it’s safe to live here,” he said. “Extracting information will tell us that, yes or no.”

 Badenhorst said extracting information is possible but it’s a matter of finding out from the group just what needs to be looked at and then following through with finding it.

 What’s truly important, said Ray Taylor, project manager for emergency preparedness with Northern Health, is ensuring the right groups are involved.
 “We want to make sure we have all of the stakeholders involved, certainly with a very focused effort on both public education and public information about the emergency management program,” he said. “[We’re also] encouraging the points of interface with all the other emergency services and government agencies, including all of the health and medical providers, making sure everyone is fully aware of what the emergency management process is and what the issues are.”

 And a number of those in attendance at the meeting were happy with where things could be going – but all admitted there is still a lot of work to do.
 “I think the Peace Region’s quite aware that there’s real concern, especially from the rural residents, of the potential for health problems, cumulative and/or single incidences, so that’s why we’re participating because we want to see some action in this regard,” said Area C director Arthur Hadland with the Peace River Regional District.

 Gwen Johansson, president of the Custodians of the Peace Country Society added the rural population “want to know that they can go to bed safely at night and so we’re addressing that,” through work concerning the air monitoring system.

 At the front of the discussions surrounding the air monitoring systems, among other issues, was the recent gas leak in Pouce Coupe and what can be done to ensure similar incidents do not occur in the future.

 “One of our biggest fears and concerns are that the Northern Health Authority and our medical officer are not being kept informed when there are injuries to residents and we’re hoping to set up system so that they can know what’s happening out there,” said Lois Hill with the Peace Environment Safety Trustees.

 Badenhorst said health officers are being informed, but not always effectively and that will be worked on.

 The group, which included representatives of EnCana, whose representative Brian Lieverse said it was important for the company to attend, Northern Health and a number of residents’ groups plan to meet every one or two months to keep dealing with issues at the forefront.

 The Oil and Gas Commission did not attend the meeting but Steve Simons, leader of corporate affairs with the Commission said while commissioner and CEO Alex Ferguson intended to call into the meeting, conflicting priorities kept him away from doing so.

 The Commission, however, has followed up with the committee and intends to see if there is something it can provide to the group.