Regulatory Appeal Request – Appeal No. 1849419, 1880296 & 1881743 – Gas Injection and Storage- Dismissed
In this decision, the AER considered Heather and Dale Sorenson’s request for a regulatory appeal of a number of licences and approvals (the “Approvals”) issued to Tidewater Midstream and Infrastructure Ltd. (“Tidewater”) related to gas injection and storage facilities.
The AER determined that the Sorensons were not directly and adversely affected by the Approvals and therefore were not eligible to request a regulatory appeal. The AER therefore dismissed the regulatory appeal requests.
The Sorensons’ primary concerns were with safety in the event of an incident relating to Tidewater’s gas injection and storage operations.
The AER noted that the concerns the Sorensons raised were the same or similar to those raised previously in statements of concern with respect to the initial facility and pipeline applications filed by Tidewater. The AER noted that it had considered those concerns and found that the Sorensons would not be directly and adversely affected by the Approvals.
In addition, the AER found that:
• given the nature and depth of the reservoir into which injection would occur, and the AER’s numerous requirements which are protective of groundwater sources, it was unlikely that the Sorenson’s well water would be impacted; and
• concerns about odours and noise were raised and addressed by the AER with respect to the Sorenson’s’ previous statements of concern.
The AER held that the Sorensons had not demonstrated that they may be directly and adversely impacted by the Approvals and were therefore not an “eligible person” under REDA section 38.
