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Partners SymposiumEdmonton, Alberta

Terry PeckEmergency Response Coordinator

February 2009

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Objectives and Scope

Provide Overview of ERCB Mandate Discuss Mitigation and Preparedness ERCB Emergency Activation Process ERCB Emergency Response Process What are ERCB Deployable Resources Discuss Criteria for Re-Deployment

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ERCB Mandate Starts w/Legislation

Coal Conservation Act Energy Resources Conservation Act Gas Resources Preservation Act Oil and Gas Conservation Act Oil Sands Conservation Act Pipeline Act

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ERCB Regulates

159,500 operating natural gas and oil wells 33,700 oil and gas batteries, plants & facilities 392,000 km of pipelines 12 producing coal mines 38 commercial oil sands plants

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Petroleum Industry Incident Support Plan Otherwise known as PIISP (no I’m not swearing at you!)

Alberta Government plan administered by AEMA

Developed for response to significant oil & gas emergencies

Identifies ERCB as the “lead agency”

Clarifies “supporting agency” roles

Joint multi-agency exercise held every 4 years

Last activated during the Pembina Pipeline incident on the Red Deer River in June 2008

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Mitigation & PreparednessEmergency Planning & Assessment (EPA) is

Responsible for administering Directive 071 Requirements :

o Pre-Approval Audit (ERP Application Process)

o Post-Approval Audit

o Emergency Response Assessment

o Enforcement Technical Support

o Hearings (advising panel and decision report)o Stakeholder (RHA/Industry/Public etc)

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Public Safety Management System

INVESTIGATIONFollow-up

Lessons learned

VIGILENCESurveillance ComplianceEnforcement

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

Emergency Planning, Preparedness, and

ResponseResponse Capability

PREVENTIONStandardsTraining

CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT

Risk Reduction

HazardMitigation

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ERCB Emergency Activation Process

During normal working hours calls from the public/industry usually come directly into the Field Centre

After hours/weekend calls come through the CIC and are then directed back to the Field Centre 24/7 On-call Person

Emergencies that are Level 1 or greater require the Field Centre to engage the Emergency Response Group (ERG)

Some Level 1’s, all Level 2 and Level 3 emergencies will activate the Field Incident Response Support Team (FIRST)

Level 2 and Level 3 may require a GEOC activation

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ERCB Emergency Response Process

The Field Centre (9 throughout the Province) is responsible for providing a physical response to an emergency 24 X 7 - 365 days/year

Level 1 and above will engage the ERG, which will provide ERCB expertise from within the department and will provide situational awareness to our external partners

For complex Level 1, and Level 2/3, FIRST will engage and Support in the areas of air monitoring, ICS, media relations, safety, and investigation.

If the GEOC is activated, the CMO will play a lead role

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Deployable ResourcesThe greatest asset the ERCB has are “our people”.

Due to the close working relationship our Field Centre staff have with the oil & gas industry, when an emergency happens, the Field Centre will likely know the company and potential hazards associated with the site.

Field Centre staff trained to ICS 200 and equipped with Personal Protective Equipment

Subject matter experts throughout the department that can be called on to assist in an emergency.

Very good air monitoring program with deployable units and knowledgeable and experienced technicians to operate them. Work closely with our ER Partners to ensure situational awareness. Presently developing an air monitoring protocol with AENV, Health, and Industry.

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Criteria for Re-Deployment As per PIISP, the ERCB is the “lead agency” on upstream oil & gas emergencies and will remain so until the release is under control and the free liquid has been removed.

Once the “lead agency” changes hands, i.e. environmental issues are the main focus, ERCB will stay engaged as a “supporting agency” until there is agreement by partner agencies that no further involvement by ERCB is necessary.

Investigation activity will likely continue well beyond the emergency response phase

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Questions?