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LLI GOLINE/NORMAN WELLS
The fate of the Rainbow Pipeline is the now in the hands of Alberta's Energy Resources Conservation Board.

On July 28 Plains Midstream Canada, the owner of the pipeline, applied for permission to reopen the pipeline, which closed April 29 following a spill in northern Alberta.

The board now has to ensure the company, which operates in five provinces and more than 40 U.S. states, has met all the regulatory requirements and can ensure another spill doesn't occur.

Bob Curran, a spokesperson for the board, couldn't say when the pipeline would get the go-ahead to reopen. Norman Wells declared a state of emergency when it closed due to the community's energy supply being reliant on the pipeline.

"It depends on all the information we receive and whether or not we need any follow-up information, but at this point I couldn't tell you how long it's going to take," Curran said.

"There's so many factors that can vary that it's impossible to estimate how long it's going to take, but the bottom line is, we're not going to allow Plains to restart the line until we're confident that it can be operated safely."

Norman Wells declared a state of emergency May 6 following the Rainbow Pipeline leak, which spilled 4.5 million litres of oil approximately 100 km northeast of Peace River, Alta.

On May 20, clean-up crews were evacuated from the site of the spill, lengthening the amount of time it would take to get the 44-year-old pipeline back up and running.

After the announcement last week that Plains Midstream applied to reopen the pipeline, which connects to the Enbridge Pipeline out of Norman Wells, officials were still out of the loop and unsure when they would have a stable supply of natural gas again - production of that natural gas is tied to the production of oil near the community.

"I haven't heard anything, so I'm assuming nothing is happening," said Ian Fremantle, SAO of Norman Wells.

Jon Harding, a spokesperson for Imperial Oil, which supplies the community with natural gas, said it's the same story for the company.

"It's (Plains Midstream's) asset that they own and

operate. We've been going along with the status quo," he said.

On June 30, Norman Wells Mayor Dudley Johnson got word from Imperial Oil representatives that the company could maintain natural gas supplies until the end of August.

The good news came after Imperial Oil was able to increase its oil storage capacity, which delays having to shut down oil production completely.

If a shutdown occurs, natural gas will no longer be available and residents will have to switch to using propane, which can't run through their infrastructure in cold weather.

The town's emergency measures organization, which includes representatives from Health and Social Services, the fire department, Imperial Oil and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, has already developed an evacuation plan if the pipeline doesn't open in time.

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