An environmental protest, led by convicted oilpatch vandal Wiebo Ludwig, started this weekend near a gas well site in northwestern Alberta.
Drilling is currently going on at a site near Hythe, Alta., which is about two kilometres from Ludwig's Trickle Creek farm. The drilling is the works of gas company Canadian Superior Energy.
The group wants the natural gas exploration in the area stopped for health and environmental reasons. Ludwig says the Energy Resources and Conservation Board has, so far, been reluctant to halt production.
Environment Minister Rob Renner is downplaying Ludwig's protest. He says hundreds of sour gas wells can be found across the province, which the province routinely monitors, so he feels there is nothing to be alarmed about.
Renner admits he's not aware of any specific testing of the well site that Ludwig's group is protesting.
Canadian Superior Energy maintains the drilling is exploratory, but Ludwig said last week he was planning to apply to the Energy Resources and Conservation Board for a temporary stop work order so the health impacts of the site can be studied.
Three gas companies, including Canadian Superior Energy, are looking into the merits of a peace bond application against Ludwig, his son 29-year-old Benjamin and 54-year-old Richard Boonstra. The RCMP served papers to Ludwig, Benjamin and Boonstra a couple of weeks ago on behalf of the gas companies.
At this point, it will be another month until a date is set for a hearing between the gas companies, the RCMP, and Ludwig.
Ludwig spent 19 months behind bars after being convicted of vandalizing well sites. Ludwig is also a suspect in six recent pipeline bombings near Dawson Creek, B.C.
With files from the Canadian Press
