Why did the Government of Alberta acquire the Turner Valley Gas Plant?
The plant is historically significant. The petroleum stike at Turner Valley in 1914 began the modern era of oil and gas exploration and processing in Alberta. It is the earliest and best surviving example of an operating gas plant in Canada. The Alberta Government acquired the site in 1988. It was designated a Provincial Historic Resource in 1989 and a National Historic Site in 1995. Under the terms of the acquisition, the Province assumed responsiblity for the clean up, with a cash donation from the oil companies. What environment hazards were identified in and around the site? In addition to the naturally occurring gas seeps, four kinds of contaminants were identified on site: asbestos, mercury, sulphur and hydrocarbons. What has been cleaned up? The asbestos, mercury and sulphur have been cleaned up. Many of the pipes and tanks were insulated with asbestos. All the asbestos was either removed from the site or encapsulated (contained). Mercury contaminated soil was removed from the t
