LLI GOLINE/NORMAN WELLS - After declaring a state of emergency on May 6, the fuel situation in the isolated town of Norman Wells remains uncertain as the town's natural gas supply dwindles.

"The community is still waiting to see what happens (to its fuel supply), but the bottom line is that people, families and lives are affected by (the) lack of fuel; there hasn't been much change in circumstances, and we don't know how much it will cost to keep things going," Norman Wells Mayor Dudley Johnson said last week. "A community can only handle so much debt."

Fate dealt a cruel blow to the community of Norman Wells when an oil line connected to the Rainbow Pipeline in Northern Alberta burst last month, pumping more than 28,000 barrels of oil into nearby wetlands. The resulting oil spill meant several parts of the 44-year-old pipeline needed to be shut down, and that interrupted the flow of oil and gas from Norman Wells.

Shortly after the pipeline ceased operations, the community turned to propane to keep the town running. Later, Johnson said the town had enough propane to last for 10 days.

In response to the crisis, Calgary-based company ATCO Energy Solutions airlifted emergency equipment to Norman Wells.

The equipment creates a mixture of propane and air to simulate natural gas, and is being used to power the town until operations are restored, but Norman Wells had to provide power to the equipment on its own.

According to Johnson, there were 80,000 litres of propane available when the crisis occurred, but now that the system provided to the town by ATCO is "up and running," that propane supply is dwindling.

Norman Wells has enough propane to last until the end of the month, but eventually the costs to keep the town running this way are going to become a problem, the mayor said. According to Johnson, the system provided by ATCO costs $15,000 per day, plus the cost of propane.

Adding to the expense is the staggering $48,000 cost to airlift the 21,000 litres of propane needed for the town.

In an effort to help the community of more than 840 residents, Johnson is appealing to the territorial government for emergency funding, a process that normally takes at least two years.

"We are making every effort to speed up the process," Johnson said. "My main concern right now is the cost of propane. Hopefully the oil line gets up and running soon; when the cold season hits in a few months, it will be too cold to run the town on propane," said Johnson.

Jim Ulch, who manages the Heritage Hotel in Norman Wells, has witnessed the effect that the energy shortage has had on the community.

"There has been no change in circumstance when it comes to how the (lack of fuel) situation is going to be fixed; people keep 'spinning their tires' and talking about what to do, but talk doesn't build bridges or dikes, action does" he said. "People are panicking because of the stress levels."

Adding to the anxiety is the fact that efforts to repair the Rainbow Pipeline are on hold, because of a forest fire threat to nearby Peace River. According to a press release on May 20, all on-site staff helping with the cleanup had to be evacuated. Operations to repair the damaged pipeline remain at a standstill. Plains Midstream plans to resume clean-up operations on Tuesday, May 24, pending appropriate conditions, the press release stated.

fact file

Timeline

April 29: Rainbow pipeline breaks and spills more than 4.4 million litres of oil.

May 6: Norman Wells declares state of emergency as natural gas reserves dwindle.

May 13: ATCO airlifts propane aerator to Norman Wells.

May 20: Clean-up crews evacuated due to forest fire.

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