County of Brant announced that it has received $105,000 in funding from the Government of Ontario to help manage the hazards posed by old and inactive oil and gas wells.
The funding will be used on initiatives such as training, equipment and public education.
“Emergency preparedness is a key component to running a Province”, said Will Bouma, MPP for Brantford-Brant. “I am pleased to be part of a government that prioritizes the health and safety of Ontario and is partnering with municipalities to purchase equipment to detect and monitor hazardous gases.”
This funding is part of a three-year, $7.5 million investment by the Government of Ontario to enhance emergency preparedness in communities. It is the next step in the government’s $23.6 million action plan to address the challenges posed by legacy oil and gas wells.
Ontario has records of approximately 27,000 oil and gas wells, mainly on private land in southwestern Ontario, with numerous wells located in the County of Brant. Several mapping tools and resources can be found online at www.ontario.ca/page/abandoned-works-program.
“We are grateful to the province for this important funding,” said Kent Pottruff, Community Emergency Management Coordinator for the County of Brant. “Emergency preparedness and planning are top priorities, and this funding will expand our resources and communication efforts with the community on this critical issue.”
The County of Brant will use the funding to implement the following programs:
- Purchase two portable digital road signs for public awareness messages and quick communication during emergencies, such as evacuations or road closures due to oil or gas well incidents.
- Acquire handheld gas monitoring and calibration equipment to quickly detect dangerous gases. These detectors can be expanded for air monitoring in evacuation zones and will work with road signs to ensure resident safety.
- Provide legacy gas well awareness and refresher training to the County’s 200 volunteer firefighters, the newly contracted fire dispatch service, and the County’s Municipal Emergency Control Group.
- Develop public awareness materials and a webpage outlining the risks associated with legacy gas wells.
- Host a public information meeting for the community.
More information on public awareness initiatives will be shared in the near future. Follow the County of Brant on social media and subscribe to County of Brant news and notices at www.brant.ca/Subscribe for updates.
