Written by Andrew Bergland
Dawson Creek Daily News
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Friday, 03 July 2009 |
DAWSON CREEK -- RCMP have confirmed the July 1 gas leak near Dawson Creek was a result of a purposely placed explosive device and has been called the fifth bombing in a year-long series of attacks on EnCana infrastructure.
“At this time we’re able to confirm that the gas leak was a result of a criminally motivated act,” RCMP Cpl. Dan Moskaluk said Thursday. “We received a report from EnCana Limited for the RCMP to attend and examine a scene at a wellhead site eight kilometres east of Pouce Coupe. The findings of the investigators from the INSET (Integrated National Security Enforcement Team) team indicate the gas leak was as a result of a criminally motivated act and was the result of an explosion.”
There were no deaths or injuries as a result of the most recent blast and the resulting release of sweet gas (sweet gas is natural gas that contains no corrosive components such as hydrogen sulfide).
Despite the close proximity to residential areas, Moskaluk said the Provincial Emergency Preparedness System ensured there was minimal danger to either surrounding communities or emergency response personnel.
“At this time there is no imminent threat of danger to the community in the nearby vicinity,” he said.
As in the previous attacks, police are urging people with information to come forward.
“There is somebody who knows something about what has happened here and what has been happening,” Moslaluk said. “We want to again cover the fact that these incidents pose a danger to the community itself.
They also pose a danger to the workers that work these sites.”
Moskaluk added INSET will remain the lead investigators in the bombings despite the fact it has yet to yield a single arrest during the eight months since the first bombing.
The first bombings took place in a remote location off the Heritage Highway about 50 kilometres south of Dawson Creek while subsequent bombings took place throughout the Tomslake area 20 kilometres south.
The fifth bombing appears to continue on a direct route towards the more densely populated Dawson Creek and neighbouring village of Pouce Coupe. This is not a factor the RCMP missed.
“That’s a very big concern,” Moskaluk said. “When these explosions are taking place near populated areas the individuals who are responsible for these incidents are endangering the public.”
A threat letter sent to South Peace media outlets just prior to the first bombings in 2008 indicated anger towards unregulated oil and gas production, the impact on the natural environment and proximity to residents. Dawson Creek Mayor Mike Bernier said local governments and oil and gas companies are continuing to improve relations with the public.
Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources Minister Blair Lekstrom repeated this sentiment.
“We have acted on a number of things,” Lekstrom said Thursday. “The setbacks and the flaring we’re working on right now as I committed to. There have been numerous issues raised that we have moved on in the last six-months, and I’m quite proud of what we have been able to do.”
Some of these issues include bringing in a land agent code of conduct, the continued work on licensing requirements, a farmers' advocate who will soon be put into place, the opening of an Oil and Gas Commission in Dawson Creek and industry procurement offices in Dawson Creek and Fort Nelson, said Lekstrom.
Lekstrom did not mince words in regards to the persons responsible. “There are so many ways to bring issues forward today that this is obviously just the work of some sick individual,” said Lekstrom. “This person is obviously seeking attention or has had the lack of it for some reason, but just the disregard for human life, of innocent people, is just appalling to me.”
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Last Updated ( Friday, 03 July 2009 )
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