Prince George, BC – While a human health risk assessment of BC’s oil and gas industry moves into phase two, the provincial government says it is already taking action to address concerns raised during the first phase.

During public consultations held last January through March, an environment health sciences firm specializing in risk assessment, Intrinsik, collected and compiled submissions from the public and stakeholders regarding potential health impacts.  As a result of concerns raised, the Ministry of Health says the government and the BC Oil & Gas Commission are working together with industry to expand air-quality monitoring in northeastern BC.

Intrinsik has just been awarded the contract to carry on with phase two – a jurisdictional scan of past and current studies focused on the actual human health risk, related reports, and a review of existing regulations.  There will be a particular focus on the potential impacts of the industry on air, water, land, and food quality.

Peace River North MLA, Pat Pimm, says, "As the three-phase oil and gas human health risk assessment continues to move forward, it reinforces our commitment of taking the health of families in the Northeast very seriously."

He adds, "As the work unfolds, residents can be assured that government will continue to take action."

The project manager at Intrinsik says the company has assembled a multi-disciplinary team of scientific professionals with demonstrated experience in performing assessments of this kind.  Bart Koppe says, "On behalf of the Intrinsik study team, we look forward to assisting the Ministry of Health and all British Columbians to better understand the potential health-related impacts of oil and gas activities in northeast BC through the completion of what promises to be a comprehensive and transparent health risk assessment."

Phase two is expected to be complete by March of 2014, with phase three a public reporting out of the findings and any suggestions for improvement that might be found.