Environment Committee on May 8th, 2007

[Jessica Ernst]

I don't think I mentioned music, or at least I don't remember that; I think I was mentioning cattle.

On that, I was talking about a neighbour's farm. I'm not exactly sure of the distance; I think it was about 300 metres from their house.

Some compressors are much closer. In my case, the closest compressor site is about 900 metres away. In terms of the closest CBM well, I'm not exactly sure how far it is, but it's probably around that same distance. I think there are a number of wells at that compressor site as well, but I don't know which ones are CBM.

[Mark Warawa, Conservative, Langley, BC]

I have a comment that's attributed to you. It says:

I love the quiet, but after living in the vicinity of coal-bed methane development, I can’t even stand to listen to music. I fell in love with the big sky and the powerful spirit of the people in Alberta, and I can’t believe we powerful people, especially the farmers and ranchers, are allowing the rape and pillage that is taking place in Alberta.

Is that a comment you made?

[Jessica Ernst]

Did I make that here today?

[Mark Warawa, Conservative, Langley, BC]

No. But is that a comment you made?

[Jessica Ernst]

I have mentioned music before, yes. Interestingly, I don't listen to music any more because I find I'm so craving quiet. I used to listen to classical music a lot. I don't listen to it any more.

[Mark Warawa, Conservative, Langley, BC]

Noise is a factor in coal-bed methane.

[Jessica Ernst]

Yes, a very big factor.

[Mark Warawa, Conservative, Langley, BC]

Okay.

Mr. Schwartz, you live in the area also. Is noise an issue for you? If it is, what's the closest compressor area?

[Robert Schwartz]

Yes, noise is an issue. The closest compressor to me would be over two kilometres away.

[Mark Warawa, Conservative, Langley, BC]

And you can still hear that?

[Robert Schwartz]

Oh, certainly; certainly.

[The Chair, Conservative, Bob Mills]

Excuse me, Mr. Warawa.

Mr. Vellacott, the clerk advises me that because that is not translated, we need to put it through the clerk. He'll get it translated and then we can distribute it. There's an official languages rule on that matter.

[Maurice Vellacott, Conservative, Saskatoon—Wanuskewin, SK]

Do you mean the picture?

[The Chair, Conservative, Bob Mills]

Yes. Those are the rules, I'm sorry.

[Maurice Vellacott, Conservative, Saskatoon—Wanuskewin, SK]

But how do you translate a picture?

[The Chair, Conservative, Bob Mills]

There is wording on it.

[Maurice Vellacott, Conservative, Saskatoon—Wanuskewin, SK]

Okay. I'll send that in.

[The Chair, Conservative, Bob Mills]

Thank you, Mr. Vellacott.

Mr. Warawa, carry on.

[David Pryce]

Mr. Chairman, could we respond to the noise piece?

[Mark Warawa, Conservative, Langley, BC]

The point made by Mr. Schwartz is that it's approximately two kilometres away. So yes, perhaps you would comment on the noise.

[David Pryce]

I think it would be useful to understand the noise rules in Alberta. The noise rules in Alberta are governed by something called “Directive 040”, with which all oil and gas companies, in fact all utilities, need to comply. The directive states that your noise level, for the closest residence, has to be below 40 dBA. It actually doesn't matter how far the residence is. However distant the residence is, the noise level has to be below 40 dBA at nighttime. And 40 dBA is equivalent to about a refrigerator.

[Mark Warawa, Conservative, Langley, BC]

Does it meet those guidelines?

[David Pryce]

Absolutely.

[Mark Warawa, Conservative, Langley, BC]

Thank you.

Am I out of time?

[The Chair, Conservative, Bob Mills]

You're out of time.

I'd like to go very quickly to the second round. I know that a few of you really want to get in here.

Mr. Scarpaleggia, five minutes maximum, please.