After being barred from a meeting on June 17, the Meridian Source was unable to get clarity on rumours regarding the well release at the Rush Lake Thermal Facility.
Watch more: VIDEOS: Cenovus responding to Rush Lake leak
In days leading up to the meeting, Cenovus Energy refused access to the site and to provide a timely update.
The meeting, which took place at the Seniors Drop-In Centre in Maidstone, was led by officials from Cenovus Energy.
About a dozen individuals, including representatives from the Town of Maidstone, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency, were seated around the table.
Upon arrival, Nicolas Zaher, vice-president of operations for Cenovus, told the Meridian Source to stay outside and await further comment as it was an “in-camera” meeting.
After the meeting concluded, Zaher explained they are working hard to mitigate the situation and keep the public informed.
When asked why the media wasn’t allowed inside to help get the message out, he repeatedly claimed work is being done to keep the public informed.
He refused to share any information about the leak and declined to answer any further questions on the leak itself.
According to a June 13 paNOW article, Cenovus continues to manage the well release, which shut down Rush Lake 1 and 2 on May 9. The sites sit about 80 kilometres southeast of Lloydminster.
The Ministry of Energy and Resources confirmed the facilities will remain closed for the foreseeable future.
“Any operations happening at these facilities at this time will be for incident management efforts,” the ministry said. “Those efforts will have been reviewed and approved by the ministry.”
The latest update:
Ministry staff meet with Cenovus twice a day for updates as the company works to repair wells.
“So far, Cenovus has identified wells with integrity issues in the area,” said the ministry. “The company is focused on repairing these wells to bring the situation under control.”
Cenovus and the ministry are also testing air quality around the site, while drone surveys and mapping work continues daily.
The gas release is causing strong odours in the area. Officials said those levels don’t pose a health risk.
“Our testing indicates that, while the H2S levels may be detectable as an odour, they are not considered a health concern,” Cenovus said in an email to paNOW.
Even with those assurances, members of the public remain concerned. Some have even posted videos of fluids surfacing at the site anonymously.
Cenovus said the fluid is coming from the initial well release and their control work. It’s mostly muddy, silty water and steam. It also contains hydrogen sulphide gas.
The ministry is monitoring fluids, containing them and disposing of them properly.
“Cenovus is monitoring and taking regular samples of tributary water sources,” the ministry said. “No contamination has been detected.”
Numerous employees and contractors remain on the site.
The ministry will launch a full review once the release is under control. That review aims to identify the cause and environmental cleanup requirements.
Cenovus continues to update residents living within a five-kilometre radius of the site. A community phone line is available at 1-877-697-4480.
With files from Teena Monteleone, paNOW.
Watch more: VIDEO: Rush Lake aerial view