December 23, 2013 - 9:48 AM
EDMONTON - A family that says it was forced to leave its home by intolerable smells from a nearby heavy oil producer is turning to the courts.
Alain (a-LEHN') Labrecque (lah-BREHK')and his wife Karla are asking for an injunction to force Calgary-based Baytex Energy (TSX:BTE) to shut down 46 wells near Peace River for eight months.
In an affidavit, Labrecque says he, his wife and their two children began to notice problems in 2011 shortly after Baytex took over the wells.
The Labrecques blame odours and fumes from the Baytex wells for headaches, nausea, numbness, vomiting and diarrhea.
They say they've been forced to leave their land, along with four other families.
The provincial government is conducting an inquiry into their concerns.
A hearing on the injunction application is scheduled for Jan. 15.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2013