The Editor,
The Saskatchewan Green Party wants immediate action from the Wall Government to end sour gas (Hydrogen Sulphide or H2S) that is being released from oil wells in southeast Saskatchewan. The Ministry of Economy reports these sour gas emissions are at 30 parts per million (ppm), or 30 times higher than the level that is fatal to people. There was a case where one well reported sour gas emissions of 150,000 ppm. We are deeply alarmed by this report. The fact that there are a growing number of complaints about sour gas being detected in the southeast in recent years should have alerted the Ministry to the problem years ago. Michael Bunz of Wawota would still be alive to enjoy his life with his wife and daughters had the Ministry been more alert. The Ministry should implement the Sask Green Party’s surface rights platform right away to deal with the sour gas problem. Planks in the surface rights platform that could be of use right away include but are not limited to:
- Drilling must be a minimum distance away from occupied dwellings and right of entry (wells, flowlines, etc.), at a distance mutually agreed to by the lessee of the surface rights, the landowner(s), and the people living in the dwelling. This would help reduce potential exposure of sour gas to people.
- Open an advocacy office for farmers and other landowners when negotiating with energy companies. The advocacy office would provide an outlet for farmers to report sour gas emissions.
The surface rights platform is part of the Sask Green Party’s Real Change platform for the next provincial election, and can be found on the party’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/SaskGreenParty.
Victor Lau,
Leader of the Saskatchewan Greens
