Exploration in the Tawatinaw Valley this fall didn’t turn up any gravel, but did yield some sand.
Westlock County director of infrastructure Al Scott reported to council on the exploration’s findings at its Nov. 27 meeting.
Although there was no gravel discovered, a lot of sand that may have been of use in the fracking industry was discovered, so further testing was required. Council will see a full report in December.
“Initial gravel results were unfavorable however quantities of sand were located. Administration requested further testing of the sand to see if the sand was usable as a frac sand,” Scott’s report stated.
“The sand tested mostly does not meet technical specifications required for use in the frac-sand industry. Based on the initial results from the laboratory, further testing and analysis was not performed on the material.”
Testing was performed as part of county council’s initial decision to shut down the Tawatinaw Valley Ski Hill this summer. Council directed administration to explore options for uses of the area which led to the search for an aggregate source.
Council later reversed that decision and signed a three-year operating agreement with the Friends of Tawatinaw to keep the hill open.
“There were all kinds of rumours floating around in the community that the hill was full of sand suitable for fracking. We didn’t know, so we thought it was good due diligence to find out what it is we’re dealing with, so we know definitively what is there,” CAO Leo Ludwig said after the meeting.
“We went ahead and did it even though we had an agreement with the Friends of Tawatinaw because if something happens in three years or six years, we know what is there,’ said reeve Lou Hall.
“That does not mean we’re going to develop it. Not in my term anyway.”
Based on the initial results from the laboratory, further testing and analysis was not performed on the material. Other uses for the sand may be applicable and council may direct administration to perform further dig testing and sample analysis.
