It’s a Fact

Roxanne committed three years of her life to have the Turner Valley Gas Plant cleaned up and returned back to a healthy environment.

A major priority for Roxanne was educating residents, Town Council and the Provincial Government to the risks posed by the abandoned oil and gas plant to the local and regional environment. Local and provincial experts joined Roxanne in organizing an educational forum to inform the public about the risks associated with leaking hydrocarbons and petro-chemical based matter into the environment. At the forum, Roxanne presented findings from sample tests taken from the site, highlighted by traces of carbon chains, PCBs, radioactivity and a possible methyl mercury formulation that develops in old pipes and underground waste pits.

Following the educational forum, Roxanne and the residents of Turner Valley and neighbouring communities petitioned the office of the Auditor General of Canada, voicing their concern in a united front. Action was taken and Environment Canada launched an investigation regarding the “deleterious material” leaking into Sheep River from the Turner Valley Gas Plant. Finally in 2006, the Government of Alberta committed five million dollars to construct a state of the art containment wall around the plant and has promised further cleanup efforts for the surrounding area.

For the past five years Roxanne has been working tirelessly to ensure the community is returned to healthy environment. Inspired by Roxanne’s actions and commitment, local residents have now petitioned the Government of Alberta to reclaim the Turner Valley Gas Plant and turn it into a parkland area.