AER Issues Environmental Protection Order to ConocoPhillips

CALGARY, ALBERTA--(Marketwired - June 14, 2016) - The Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) has issued an environmental protection order to ConocoPhillips Canada Ltd. in response to a pipeline failure that resulted in the release of about 380 m³ of condensate approximately 65 kilometres northeast of Grande Cache.

The order directs the company to

• immediately contain the release and prevent it from spreading,
  
  
• identify anyone who may be affected by the release and make sure they are notified,
  
  
• control access to the site,
  
  
• collect water and soil samples from the site for analysis,
  
  
• develop a wildlife mitigation plan and detailed delineation and remediation plan,
  
  
• develop daily public reports and publish them to the Conoco website, and
  
  
• submit a final report to the AER.
  
  

Much of the required work has already begun. Environmental protection orders are not enforcement; they are remedial orders directing the company to provide a plan to ensure that the environment is remediated.

An investigation is underway. Once it is complete, we will publish its findings.

We publish incident information on the Compliance Dashboard, which will be updated as new information becomes available.

The Alberta Energy Regulator ensures the safe, efficient, orderly, and environmentally responsible development of hydrocarbon resources over their entire life cycle. This includes allocating and conserving water resources, managing public lands, and protecting the environment while providing economic benefits for all Albertans.

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In response to a pipeline failure northeast of Grande Cache, the Alberta Energy Regulator has issued an environmental protection order to ConocoPhillips Canada, requiring the company to contain the release and develop and submit plans for wildlife protection, environmental remediation, and public notification.