Towards meaningful stakeholder comprehension of sour gas facility risk assessments

The disconnect between a risk assessment by the proponent of a sour gas development and the stakeholders affected is addressed by attempting to understand the implied logic and reasoning embedded in the different perspectives. While a risk assessment may assure the Alberta Energy and Utilities Board (EUB) and the proponent that there is no immediate danger to the stakeholders, public response often indicates that the stakeholders have not been reassured and their specific concerns remain unaddressed. The concepts of "I am at risk" vs. "There may be a risk" are developed in conjunction with the concept of the assumed, but unknowable, exposed population. Effective risk communication requires a two-way process to address the value judgements that scientific methodology cannot resolve. Stakeholders were not polled for their response to risk assessments; one author (CM) attempted to bridge this gulf on the basis of relevant personal experience. The concepts discussed are applicable to a wide range of issues involving accidental releases of chemicals.