Ontario Supporting Research and Monitoring of Underground Gas

Taking action to maintain public safety

NEWS	December 17, 2019

The Ontario government is protecting public safety in Norfolk County by investing in research and monitoring to further understand the movement of underground gas to the surface.

Ontario is partnering with Norfolk County to monitor a leaking gas well located on county-owned property. Monitoring will help determine potential remediation options for this well and other similar wells across southwestern Ontario.

“The safety of the public and the protection of our communities is our number one priority,” said John Yakabuski, Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry. “We are taking action to better understand the cause of this leaking well, so we can determine mitigation strategies to help keep Ontarians safe and help protect their property and our environment.”

With the help of engineering and academic consultants, Norfolk County has developed a monitoring plan to study the situation and inform future actions. This plan is consistent with the recommendations of Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry staff.

“Our government is committed to continued collaboration with affected municipalities to find longer-term solutions to leaking wells across southwestern Ontario,” said Toby Barrett, MPP for Haldimand-Norfolk. “We will continue to work with Norfolk County and experts in the field to share information to contribute to the development of future approaches.”

QUICK FACTS

• In January 2019, Ontario approved $500,000 to support an engineering study and development of a remediation plan for leaking wells in Norfolk County.

• The commercial oil and gas industry began in Ontario over 160 years ago in Lambton County.

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Jolanta Kowalski	Disponible en français
Media Desk 416-314-2106    MediaDesk.MNRF@ontario.ca    Lindsee Perkins