History

• the inadequacies identified in Polaris’s drilling plan;
• the overall failure of Polaris to engage in an effective plan of consultation and communication, which not only hampered its initial dealings with local residents but caused serious doubt as to Polaris’s ability to properly consult and communicate on an ongoing basis, thereby undermining
  its ability to implement many of its plans for mitigation;
• the inadequacies in Polaris’s assessment and mitigations of environmental impacts;
• the inadequacies of Polaris’s development plan;
• the inadequacies in Polaris’s emergency response plan; and
  the lack of a coherent management plan that would outline how Polaris would be able to deal with the eventualities of a project of this magnitude in light of its size and Polaris’s lack of experience coupled with its own lack of resources

AWA comments: “We commend the EUB for this decision that recognizes the particular care we must take with the unique ecosystem of the Whaleback, including lands adjacent to the protected areas.”

September 9-22: An EUB hearing is held at the Maycroft community hall regarding the Polaris Resources Ltd. applications to drill for sour gas. The hearing lasts 8 days.

August: Ricks Nova Scotia Company of Calgary, which has a 50% interest in the well, pulls out of the project due to the EUB's costly regulatory process. The project partners wanted the EUB to cap the amount of funding the companies would have to provide for interveners to adequately participate in the hearing. Polaris's other partner, Knight Petroleum Corp. of Vancouver still has a 25% interest. Polaris president John Maher says "We either have to finance more of it ourselves or find another partner. We may finance it ourselves."

AWA commissions a poll by the Dunvegan Group of Calgary on the drilling of Polaris's sour gas well in the Whaleback. 67% oppose the well, only 26% support it. IPSOS-Reid refused to conduct the poll for AWA because they were concerned that it could jeopardize the firm's relationship with the oil and gas industry, a significant client.

July 14: The EUB issues notice that a public hearing regarding the Polaris application will take place on Tuesday, September 9, 2003 at the Maycroft Community Centre, Maycroft, Alberta.

June 26: The Alberta Government officially grants protection to the Bob Creek Wildland and Black Creek Heritage Rangeland. The Upper Bob Creek Ecological Reserve is incorporated into the Bob Creek Wildland.

April 16: The EUB holds at pre-hearing in Maycroft regarding the Polaris Resources Ltd. application in the Whaleback.

Premier Klein says, "I can guarantee you today that we will make sure that the commitment that there will never be any drilling there is so strong that not even another party or another government can break it... we will certainly find a mechanism to make sure that for all time, in perpetuity, that this land will be protected from oil and gas development." (Calgary Herald, May 11, 1999)

In disagreement with the Local Committee, the Provincial Coordinating Committee overseeing Special Places recommends no new development in the Whaleback and a provincial buy-out of the Amoco lease. Amoco offers to relinquish its lease in the area in exchange for compensation or other holdings elsewhere. The government later rejects the offer.