Oilpatch impacts concern mayor of Alberta town hit by earthquake
Posted Jan 13, 2016 3:38 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
FOX CREEK, Alta. – The mayor of an Alberta town in an area of heavy hydraulic fracking is expressing concern over the oil industry’s impact after yet another earthquake hit his community.
Mayor Jim Ahn says the provincial government and its energy regulator are turning a blind eye to what’s happening in Fox Creek.
He says he’s worried the town’s drinking water has been affected and that industry is draining too much water from lakes and rivers.
Ahn says new rules that are supposed to ensure fracking doesn’t cause dangerous seismic events aren’t working.
He says well blowouts and earthquakes are harming Fox Creek’s attempt to present itself as a good place to start a business and raise a family.
Ahn says he has invited Alberta Premier Rachel Notley to Fox Creek to discuss the town’s concerns.
Read the full statement:
The Town of Fox Creeks response to the latest Seismic Event
The Town of Fox Creek is again in the media spotlight, claiming the record for the largest seismic event in Alberta. This is definitely not the publicity that Fox Creek is looking for as we try to attract families and businesses to our Town.
We have been working with various Government Departments such as the AER to ensure that events such as this one do not happen in this area. We have been told by these Government bodies that they have safe guards in place such as the traffic light system, but this does not seem to be working for us.
We have had water shortages due to the water levels in our aquifers. In 2015 we had to haul potable from surrounding communities just to supply drinking water to our residents at a cost in excess of $300,000.00 dollars, of which we were not assisted by Industry or the Provincial Government. Recently we had a huge well blow out, again it made the news, but Fox Creek residents were the last ones to be notified by AER. A year and a half ago we had a whistle blower inform us that a drilling rig had completed an improper cement job on well and that may affect the drinking water of Fox Creek. When we questioned those involved again the town was first told that it didn’t happen as reported to us; and then that it did indeed happen but all was ok and they were sending inspectors out to investigate in a few days.We have been working closely with Industry asking for information on their planned work activities in this area so that we are aware of what is happening and are able to respond to inquiries and keep our residents informed.
Fox Creek town council is very concerned, as it seems that Industry and the Provincial Government have been turning a blind eye as to what has been going on in our area. As mentioned earlier, we have met with AER and various Ministers to state our concerns.
We have Industry pulling water from our rivers, streams and lakes at rates we feel far exceed their capabilities to replenish themselves, and we do not want to be left with swamps that were once prize trophy lakes, or have good flowing rivers become just a trickle.
We have had many experts in these fields explain to us that what is happening has been examined and explored for years but we are still very worried that we, the Town of Fox Creek will be the ones left that will have to try and make a life here after all this activity has gone.
The Council has been actively looking for ways to make Fox Creek home to new residents and business this past two years. We have spent millions of dollars to try and attract people to come here.
We have had local business donate to the Town in way that make Fox Creek more family orientated. One local company has donated more than $800,000.00 dollars to build a world class activity park for children of all ages. In addition we have built a world class bike park and pump track, designed by Jay Hoots of Hoots Inc., developed one of the best walking trail systems in all of Alberta and designed and built a splash park that rivals many larger centers. A newly created 22 lot residential subdivision provides opportunities for families moving to Fox Creek to build their dream home. Fox Creek has land for an Industrial area to allow businesses a place to set up shop here, and we are constantly getting in touch with various developers to come to Fox Creek and start new businesses in the commercial areas.
In 2016 the Town will be building a $25,000,000.00 multi use facility which will house a swimming pool, tot pool, an arena, a field house, and a three (3) story office building for town operations. We will also be constructing a $7,000,000.00 dollar fire hall to replace our very aged fire hall, and provide a place for our volunteer firefighters a train and have our equipment stored inside out of the elements. Our final project for 2016 will be to upgrade our water system at a cost of $15,000,000.00 dollars. This is to ensure we will have enough safe drinking water for our current residents and businesses and to supply the new ones that we ae hoping will call Fox Creek home.
Having said this, as we read the paper we see yet another world record set for Fox Creek for the largest earth quake in Alberta, then only to be told by some of the people we have been working with, calling to say they are unsure if Fox Creek is the place for them.
In a time of economic downturn such as this, what we do not need is negative headlines but rather positive ones that will show the world Fox Creek is a safe place to live and a beautiful area to raise a family and have a prosperous business.
We have invited Premier Rachel Notely to Fox Creek to see firsthand what it is we are trying to accomplish and what some of the obstacles are that we face; especially the seemingly lack of concern from various Government Departments as to what has been and continues to be serious issues here. We have not heard back from the Premier as of yet, but we are very optimistic that the Premier will come to Fox Creek and meet with the Council.
We welcome any of the media to come to Fox Creek and allow us to show you the Real Fox Creek.
Respectfully,
Mayor Jim Ahn
