The Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) has confirmed a gas well leak occurred near Hussar at the end of last week released natural gas into close-by Dead Horse Lake.”Clean-up is underway,” said AER Public Affairs Advisor Jordan Fitzgerald. He was unable to provide the estimated amount of gas released before the well was capped by well operator Pengrowth Energy, based in Calgary.

“AER staff have visited the site, and are overseeing the company’s response,” the spokesman said. The well is located .05 km from the shore of Dead Horse Lake, and was a suspended well, so not producing at the time.

Fitzgerald said AER was notified April 10 of the April 9 leak, and AER staff from the regulator’s Midnapore office in Calgary attended. He said water sampling of Dead Horse Lake by the AER showed no reading of natural gas content. He said there was no reported impacts on wildlife or public safety.

Strong winds in the area April 9 caused damage to the wellhead, allowing for the release of gas, Fitzgerald said. He was unable to confirm if the well head was sheared off by the shifting ice on the lake.

The Mail has contacted Pengrowth Energy for information.

Hussar is located approximately 55 km south of Drumheller.

The official nominations are in and the slate is set for the 2015 provincial election.
    The deadline for candidates to submit their official papers was the afternoon of Friday, April 17 in order to appear on the ballot.
    In Drumheller-Stettler, there will be three on the ballot.   Incumbent Rick Strankman is running for the Wildrose Party.  He was first elected in 2012, winning by 853 votes. For the majority of his time spent as an MLA, he was critic for Tourism Parks and Recreation. His portfolio was increased considerably when he took on a number of critic positions when the bulk of his party crossed the floor to join the Progressive Conservative Party.
     In some ways, there will be a rematch in Drumheller Stettler, as former MLA Jack Hayden is running again after Strankman defeated the sitting MLA in the 2012 election. He was first elected as MLA in a by-election following the departure of MLA Shirley McClellan and was re-elected in 2008. He served as Minister of Infrastructure.
     Rounding out the ballot is Emily Shannon. Now in Edmonton, she considers Drumheller her hometown.  She holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Alberta and is employed with the UFCW Local 401. She discovered her passion for politics working on NDP leader Rachel Notley’s campaign.
    There are plenty to choose from in Strathmore-Brooks, there seven on the ballot.  Ali Abdulbaki is representing the Liberal Party, Einar Davison is representing the Alberta Party, Molly Douglass is running under the Progressive Conservative banner, Glen Dundas is running for Alberta First, Derek Fildebrandt is running for the Wildrose Party, Lynn MacWilliam is running for the NDP and Mike Worthington is representing the Green Party.
    In Old-Didsbury-Three Hills there are four on the Ballot. (in alphabetical order) James Adamchick is running under the Alberta Party banner, Wade Bearchell is running for the PCs, Nathan Cooper is running for the Wildrose and Glenn Norman is running for the  NDP.
    Election Day is May 5.