Why doesn the Government of Alberta get the oil companies who previously owned the site to pay for clean-up?
The oil companies that previously owned the site could have demolished the structures on site, cleaned up the contaminants to environmental standards, which were in effect in the 1980s and walked away. Instead they offered the site to the Alberta Government along with a cash donation to protect the integrity of this significant historical resource that marks the beginnings of oil and gas in the province of Alberta and its colourful history. In acquiring the site in 1988, Alberta Culture and Community Spirit accepted the responsibility for not only the preservation of the historic resources, but it also accepted responsibility for the site clean up. The challenge for Alberta Culture and Community Spirit has been to develop a strategy that deals with the removal of contaminants while maintaining and protecting this historic site in celebration of Alberta’s oil and gas industry.
