Sour gas, bitter relations: poor communication between Unocal and the Lubicon Cree about sour gas risks fostered distrust rather than collaboration

Unocal Canada applied in 1994 to the EUB, to process sour gas in the southeast corner of the unresolved Lubicon land claim (see map on page 29). With the approval of the Lubicon Cree for expansion of existing facilities and construction of feeder lines, the EUB granted Unocal permission to proceed w...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Alternatives journal (Waterloo) 1998-03, Vol.24 (2), p.26-31
Main Authors: Higgs, Eric, Hrudey, Steve E, Gibson, Ginger
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Business
Land claims
Native peoples
Society
Sour gas
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:Unocal Canada applied in 1994 to the EUB, to process sour gas in the southeast corner of the unresolved Lubicon land claim (see map on page 29). With the approval of the Lubicon Cree for expansion of existing facilities and construction of feeder lines, the EUB granted Unocal permission to proceed with construction of the sour gas plant. However, the Lubicon were unaware that the plant was intended to process sour gas, as opposed to low sulphur natural gas (i.e., low content of hydrogen sulphide). When they learned of the sour gas, and the attendant toxic risks associated with hydrogen sulphide, they protested the plant approval and called for a full public review.
ISSN:1205-7398