Turner Valley Gas Plant
Frequently Asked Questions
The following FAQ has been developed to answer some of the most commonly asked questions about the Turner Valley Gas Plant.
Why did the Government of Alberta acquire the site in 1988?
In 1985, Alberta Culture (now Alberta Culture and Community Spirit) requested the owner of the site Western Decalta, to undertake a Historical Resource Impact Assessment to determine the historical significance of the plant facilities. The Historical Resources Impact Assessment concluded that the plant, equipment and processes were of Provincial, National and International significance to the history of industrial technology. It recommended that the Government of Alberta acquire the site in its entirety and to stabilize, preserve, conserve and interpret it as a Provincial Historic Resource.
Which provincial and local authorities are involved in the management of the site?
Alberta Culture and Community Spirit is the owner of the site and is responsible for its protection, preservation and interpretation as a designated Provincial and National historic resource.
As owner of the site Alberta Culture and Community Spirit is responsible for the environmental clean up. Alberta Culture and Community Spirit has entered into a 10 year decommissioning agreement with Alberta Environment.
The removal, remediation or containment of the contaminants is being undertaken by Alberta Infrastructure on behalf of Alberta Culture and Community Spirit.
Alberta Environment is the regulator and ensures that all environmental regulations and standards are in place.
What contaminants were found at the site?
In addition to the naturally occurring oil and gas seeps a number of contaminants normally associated with oil and gas production were found at this site. They included asbestos, mercury, sulphur and hydrocarbons.
How are these contaminants managed?
The contaminants either have been, or are in the process of being removed on a priority basis, as identified in a risk management plan that was prepared for the site.
- Asbestos
An asbestos abatement program was completed in the spring of 2002. The loose (friable) asbestos was removed and the undamaged asbestos was covered (encapsulated) so that it could not be damaged. Air monitoring was conducted while the program was underway to ensure this contaminant did not migrate off site. - Mercury
The mercury-contaminated soil was removed and taken to an approved landfill site. Clean fill was put in its place. Mercury was also removed from cracks in the floors of buildings and the cracks were sealed. - Sulphur
Sulphur deposits removed or remediated on site. - Hydrocarbons
Alberta Culture and Community Spirit is currently requesting funds for a permanent containment system to ensure that contaminants do not migrate off site in the future.
Why did the Alberta Government proceed with River Diversion?
- In 1995 the Sheep River overflowed its banks and there was a shift in the river channel closer to the site. The river eroded the riverbanks of the site exposing vessels, piping and structures that posed a hazard to river users. Erosion also threatened to release contaminants into the water and to destroy the historic resources. To resolve these problems Alberta Infrastructure and Alberta Culture and Community Spirit developed a proposal to re-channel the river back to its pre-1995 course. An additional benefit of re-channelling the river is that it would provide some additional space in which to construct a permanent containment system
- Alberta Infrastructure completed a river channel survey and a fish habitat study prior to finalizing the re-channelling design.
- The re-channelling design received approval from Environment and work was completed prior to the 2004
spring runoff.
What has river water monitoring shown?
River Water testing conducted in the spring of 2003 and 2004 by a consultant for the Alberta Government indicated that there were no detectable levels of contaminants in the Sheep River.
Why did the Calgary Health Authority contact the Alberta Government to meet and tour the site?
In the spring of 2003, the Calgary Health Authority contacted Alberta Culture and Community Spirit after seeing media reports that contaminants on the site were a public health hazard. The Calgary Health Authority requested copies of all the recently completed environmental reports that identified health hazards.
After reviewing the information provided, the Calgary Health Authority identified a particular concern about mercury and requested a tour of the site to get a better understanding of how much exposure visitors would have to mercury.
Although visitors were not exposed to excessive amounts of mercury, the Calgary Health Authority recommended that pregnant women and children under 6 years of age be excluded from visiting the site. Alberta Culture and Community Spirit immediately complied with that request.
What legislation is in place with respect to environmental cleanup and protection?
Alberta Environment administers the following provincial laws:
- Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act
- Water Act
- Fisheries Act
- Navigable Water Protection Act
When will the remediation work on the site be completed?
Asbestos, biohazards (bird droppings), mercury and sulphur remediation have already been completed. The next phase of the remediation work will focus on the installation of a permanent containment system to ensure that contaminants will not migrate off the site. Once this is in place hydrocarbon remediation will proceed.
Why doesn't the Government of Alberta get the oil companies who previously owned the site to pay for clean-up?
The oil companies that previously owned the site could have demolished the structures on site, cleaned up the contaminants to environmental standards, which were in effect in the 1980s and walked away. Instead they offered the site to the Alberta Government along with a cash donation to protect the integrity of this significant historical resource that marks the beginnings of oil and gas in the province of Alberta and its colourful history.
In acquiring the site in 1988, Alberta Culture and Community Spirit accepted the responsibility for not only the preservation of the historic resources, but it also accepted responsibility for the site clean up. The challenge for Alberta Culture and Community Spirit has been to develop a strategy that deals with the removal of contaminants while maintaining and protecting this historic site in celebration of Alberta's oil and gas industry.
