The Energy Resources Conservation Board strongly recommends that landowners ask questions when doing an initial consultation with a pipeline company and that they get a lawyer to take a look at the agreement before signing it.The ERCB made those declarations at the Central Mountainview Action Group community open house, held at the Olds legion on Nov. 15.ìMoreover, I know it is hard to think of everything but think about what you think you might do with your property down the road or what a buyer might do,î said ERCB official Crystal Cassidy.ìIt could be years in advance, I understand, but these are things you should be thinking about, getting all commitments in writing.îDuring the event, county landowners asked questions about control zones and rights-of-way.Most of the questions were addressed to the ERCB, which is in charge of the provincial overview of pipelines.ìIt was stated during the ERCB presentation that the zone of control is an agreement between the company and the landowners,î said one speaker.ìWould you please explain where that agreement was made since I have a number of pipelines on my land and I have no such agreement.îCassidy explained that the control zone is a regulated zone encompassing 30 metres from the centre of the pipe to either side.ìThe control zone is a regulated zone if there is no right-of-way agreement. If there is a right-of-way agreement, that is not a regulated zone,î she said.ìOnce there is a right-of-way agreement, then that is the zone or metres that you need to worry about when doing construction. The control zone you do not need to worry about once there is a right-of-way agreement.îCassidy and her team went on to explain that landowners can construct outside of the right-of- way without needing to call the pipeline company. However, they still need to call Alberta One Call before digging.ìIf the ground disturbance you want to do is within the right-of-way, or if there is no right-of- way agreement within five metres of centre pipe that the land locates, then no, you cannot dig. You have to phone the pipeline company,î said Cassidy.Another speaker disagreed with ERCB's stance to let abandoned pipelines remain in the ground.ìAll that does is continue the sterilization of my land for development forever,î said the speaker.Cassidy replied that the issue is who will pay for the pipeline removal.ìYou should ask the company at the very beginning that, if down the road, if you want the pipeline removed for future subdivision development, would the company be willing to pay for it,î she said.The open house on pipelines was held in response to the CMAG June 14 open house, where people were left with more questions than answers.
