BAC Summary of Activities in 2003

2003 has been a busy and productive year for the Butte Action Committee.
In March, Mike Gallie noticed an application from Capstone Energy for a water flood from the banks of the Red Deer River near Innisfail. An objection went in from the membership of the Butte Action Committee. BAC notified the city of Red Deer, the Mountain View water treatment plant, the Red Deer county councilors, and many towns and villages along the river who depend on the river for their water, the Council of Canadians and the land owners around the proposed source well site.

Eventually, objections were recognized from Oxtoby, Little and Smith as landowners on the adjacent land, the City of Red Deer, the Mountain View water treatment plant. Mike Gallie, as a user of the river to fish was not recognized as directly affected, but was given the recognition as a “full party to the hearing”—whatever that means. BAC was granted “Advance Interim Financing”—the first time this has occurred—Richard Secord will be the lawyer representing the landowners and Mike. The hearing will take place in Red Deer at the Capri on the 23, 24, and 25 of February. It is open to the public.

Coalbed methane development was brought to our attention next. BAC initiated a meeting with representatives from the EUB, Alberta Energy, Alberta Environment, Alberta Surface Rights Association, and REDD (Residents for Responsible Energy Development). There is a huge amount of activity in the Powder River Basin of Colorado and Wyoming. The 2 main concerns are fresh water being treated as a waste by-product and the tremendous infrastructure necessary to produce the methane.

In June, BAC teamed up with the Alberta Surface Rights Association, Wheatland County Surface Rights Action Group, and the Council of Canadians to bring Gwen Lachelt and Jill Morrison from the Powder River and San Juan Basins to present their concerns and suggestions for the development of CBM in Alberta. There were 3 venues—Red Deer, Strathmore and Camrose—and Andrew Nikiforuk was the Master of Ceremonies for each site. These meetings were well attended by landowners, industry and government.

In July, there was a follow up meeting in Red Deer with CSUG (Canadian Society of Unconventional Gas), industry and synergy groups that definitely indicated there was much work to be done. Several members of BAC went to the Horseshoe Canyon area at the invitation of CSUG to see some “dry” coalbed methane development.

BAC was represented at a pre-policy meeting in Calgary to set the stage for some government work to set policy for CBM. Don Bester attended and presented at the CSUG Annual Convention in Calgary. Now BAC has Don Bester on the steering committee to initiate the setting of necessary policy for methane production.

During the year, BAC met with ConocoPhillips to get updates on their progress to use saline water instead of fresh water in the Westerose field. They are still committed to this plan although they have run into a number of problems and a lot of expense. They are also trying to find saline water to use in their Eckville field. Some exploration for methane in the area using existing well bores has been done.

BAC also invited CSUG out to a meeting so we could get to know one another and to exchange ideas on CBM development. It was a very congenial get-together.

A Synergy Round table was held in Red Deer in October to bring synergy groups in Alberta together with the view of setting up a Provincial network or umbrella organization to benefit all. Several BAC members took in the three-day affair. Judy Winter is on the Transition Team to take the ideas from the Roundtable and turn them into something tangible

Presentations were made to Clearwater County Council, Alberta Beef Producers, Red Deer County Ratepayers Association, RADCAP (Rimbey and District Clean Air People) , REDD in Beiseker, Dickson Fish and Game Association, the Alberta Social Forum at the University of Alberta and to the Pikisko landowners Association to assist in forming the Southern Alberta landowners group.

In August it was with regret that we accepted the resignation of chairman Don Andersen. He has several other environmental issues that are taking up his time now.

BAC kept up its positive profile in the media.