Alberta Government Low Flow Advisory in Fox Creek/Peace Region, Asks Users to Reduce Water Consumption. Does that include in AER’s Fox Creek Fracing Pilot Project?

AEA: Support to the identification of potential risks for the environment and human health arising from hydrocarbons operations involving hydraulic fracturing in Europe

A proportion (25% to 100%) of the water used in hydraulic fracturing is not recovered, and consequently this water is lost permanently to re-use, which differs from some other water uses in which water can be recovered and processed for re-use.

Peace Region low flow advisory Press Release by Alberta government, July 17, 2015

Several basins in the Peace Region are experiencing low flow conditions, prompting the Government of Alberta to notify users to reduce their water consumption.

Monitoring results show stream flows have declined significantly below normal levels throughout the Peace Region. When this happens, water withdrawals may increase stress on aquatic ecosystems, which include fish populations. And so water withdrawals need to be restricted.

The Simonette River, Muskeg River, Little Smoky River and associated tributaries are experiencing low flow conditions.

2015 07 19 map Fox Creek area rivers, including Simonette and Little Smoky under Alta govt low flow advisories2014 06 16 Figure 1 Map of Fox Creek Play Based and Synergy Pilot project area

They will remain closed for any new temporary diversion licences until the flow improves. Current temporary diversion licences are also suspended. 

The Kakwa River and related tributaries are also closed for new temporary diversion licences. These restrictions apply to licences issued by both Alberta Environment and Parks, and by the Alberta Energy Regulator. [Does that include all water taking for drilling and fracing in the AER’s unregulated Fox Creek Blanket Approval Pilot Frac Project?]

Licencees are encouraged [Why not mandated?] to review their licences to determine whether there are minimum flow conditions that require them to reduce or cease water withdrawals at current levels. Those with questions regarding their licences are asked to contact their regional water office. [Do industry licences have “minimum flow conditions that require them to reduce or cease water withdrawals at current levels?”]

Alberta Environment and Parks staff will continue to monitor water levels in collaboration with the Alberta Energy Regulator and close additional basins or suspend additional licences if necessary.

Related information
Alberta River Basins
Muskeg River Management Framework
Alberta Energy Regulator

Media inquiries
Lisa Glover
587-983-4256
Communications, Environment and Parks

2014 Fracking Tap Water Cartoon2015: Town of Fox Creek Water Ban Information Press Release

Potable water is being purchased from another community and trucked into Fox creek, at a great expense.

All required drinking water sampling has been completed and continuous monitoring is taking place. The water, although discoloured, is safe to drink. It has passed all parameters of testing. The colour of the water, while unappealing, is an aesthetic objective and is not a health concern.

[Questions:

Is this why the Harper government destroyed protections for water ways across Canada, except where prominent Extremist Reform-Alliance (eg Tory Terrorists) live?

Is it possible to protect water for life when it is 100% controlled by the oil and gas industry under the AER?

Did Protti and his AER mandate complete and accurate cumulative frac water use impacts assessments and emergency response and mitigation plans by all companies and subcontractors before their mass drilling and fracing in the Fox Creek Blanket Approval Pilot Project area?]

[Refer also to:

State of agri­cul­tural dis­as­ter de­clared in Parkland County because of lack of rain, Intentional contamination and permanent loss of massive volumes of fresh water injected by oil and gas companies for fracing continues

Is this what the entire province of Alberta gets to look forward to, thanks to Tory Government, Encana, CAPP, AER Chair Gerard Protti et al? Losing water quality and quantity?

Edmonton-area municipalities tell residents to conserve water

2015 05 05: Fox Creek Town Council Highlights: APRIL 27 MEETING

Encana Delegation
Encana representatives, Darci-Jane McAulay, Tyson Pylypin, Greg Hendersen and Jon Remmer attended the town council meeting to provide their annual presentation on their activities in our area. Safety is a core value at Encana and in 2015, their focus is on wellsites; focusing on existing wellsites and only looking to build one additional wellsite this year. Activity in the area has slowed down due to the drop in oil prices but by mid-2016, Encana expects to have three facilities in our area. Encana is currently building pipelines to supply Encana’s lands, to move water more efficiently. Road upgrades are also being done this year.

Encana representatives explained to Council that they monitor water levels over and above the requirements put in place by AER (Alberta Energy Regulators), adding that Encana is doing a ‘water reuse’ pilot project, explaining that the more reused water they can use, the less freshwater they will use.

Encana is a company that likes to participate in the area, not just donate to an area they are in. Prior to the meeting, Encana representatives took a walk on the new trail system. “We are all part of the community and want to help” stated McAuley. [Is that right?  how many workers and management at Encana and Cenovus have no safe running water in their homes for bathing, drinking and toilets? When then, is Encana going to heed the Court Rules and cough up all the chemicals they injected into hundreds of gas wells frac’d into fresh water zones at Rosebud, including illegally into the community’s drinking water aquifers? And when is Encana going to repair the frac’d aquifers and remove the dangerous natural gas and other contaminants from area water wells? And when is Encana going to reimburse the community and county for the $700,000.00 water reservoir that was built to replace the one that blew up?]

Did you know that if you have twitter, you can get road updates from Encana, letting you know what is going on, whether it be a vehicle that is stuck, or bad road conditions.

2013: New Alberta Energy Regulator AER now Regulates Fresh Water with 100% Oil and Gas Industry Control

2013: New Alberta energy regulator will weaken environmental protection and vastly diminishes citizen and landowner rights

2012: (now Wildrose-Harper-Big Oil Party Chief) Brian Jean, when he was Harper Party MP, voted to destroy Canadian waterway protections

2012 12 06 Harper government MP Brian Jean, now Alta Wildrose Big Oil Party Chief, betraying Canada's waterways

Conservative Members of Parliament Brian Jean (R) and Ed Komarnicki vote in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa June 14, 2012.

Thousands of Canadian lakes, rivers and streams will no longer be protected by the federal government, including several waterways held sacred and culturally important to aboriginals in Wood Buffalo.

The Conservatives’ omnibus bill overhauls the Navigable Waters Protection Act, which says federal approval is required for development that may affect the thousands of bodies of water crisscrossing Canada.

Under the new legislation, only 97 lakes, the three oceans and 62 creeks, rivers and canals will be protected. However, waterways that Aboriginals in northeastern Alberta deem “culturally significant” will no longer be protected.

Lake Athabasca and the Athabasca River will continue to be protected. However, hundreds of streams, rivers and tributaries in the region, such as the Muskeg River, will not.

In an area that has attracted every major oil company in the world, several aboriginal leaders and elders in the region say the lack of federal oversight could seriously harm their culture.

“This is just another bill that removes protection of our lands from corporate industry and greed,” says Chief Allan Adam of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation. “All these smaller rivers and lakes are connected and feed the Athabasca River and the lake. They will be affected by what happens here.”

Adam says traditional hunting and fishing grounds, plus several wildlife species deemed culturally significant, depend on the region’s water purity.

The federal government argues that the changes will streamline regulation and remove red tape [translation: deregulate to let industry harm the waterways with no legal recourse and prepare for Harper’s hideous 30 year China trade law] blocking various industrial projects. Laws that allow Aboriginals to practice traditional hunting and fishing, such as the Aboriginal Fisheries Act will also remain untouched.

Opposition parties are not convinced, and have accused the government of absolving itself of any environmental responsibility by removing oversight.

… Fred Fraser, president of the Fort Chipewyan Métis Local 125, echoed Adam’s sentiments.

“Any tampering of water leading into the Athabasca River will definitely affect us in some way,” he said. “Those smaller rivers and streams keep the larger Athabasca going. They provide a place for the fish that we catch to spawn and the wildlife we hunt drink from it.”

For the Métis, as well as the Dené and Cree, the outdoors is not just a hobby, says Fraser, but a way of life. [Do residents of Fox Creek fish?]

Fort McMurray-Athabasca MP Brian Jean voted in favour of the amendments, but was unavailable for comment. Both Adam and Fraser say Jean did not consult with them or their communities prior to voting.

“We, all aboriginals and all First Nations, just want to be consulted,” said Adam. “Not even the MP here will sit down and do that.” [Emphasis added]

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