Description of Control Points

In each of our 9 Cooperative Oil Spill Contingency manuals you can find a mapping section that identifies control points in the area. In most cases control points are access points for spill response equipment. The best location on the water body to deploy containment and recovery equipment is determined at the time of the response and may not be precisely at the designated control point.

WCSS routinely inspects all critical control points in our jurisdiction which were historically identified as being upstream from or within major urban centres, and/or are linked to sensitive environmental areas, or downstream of major pipeline crossings or higher risk facilities. Control points that have not been designated as “critical” are not inspected by WCSS regularly and members should conduct their own due diligence rather than relying on the data provided.

WCSS’ policy related to the maintenance of all non-critical control points is that it is the responsibility of Cooperative members to review those control points downstream from their operations and ensure that they are assessed for potential spill response activities. Should member companies wish to provide WCSS with updated critical / non-critical control point information, please contact us at info@wcss.ab.ca

Classification System

Critical Control Points

Critical Control Points are defined as being:

  • Upstream or within major urban centres
  • Upstream of significant environmentally sensitive areas
  • Downstream of major pipeline crossings or high risk facilities
  • Lakes with pipelines, facilities or high volume or road transportation of hydrocarbons in close proximity.
Access Control Points

These control points are existing river crossings (bridges) and are likely the most common access points utilized as staging areas for spill containment and recovery operations. In many cases these river crossings will also qualify as critical control points.

Other Control Points

All other control points including:

  • Recreational sites
  • Private land access
  • Public land access
  • Company property
  • WCSS member control points

Link to McElhanney

WCSS acknowledges McElhanney for their contribution in making control point maps available to our members and shareholders.

Control point maps are available in each of the 9 Co-op oil spill contingency manuals.

Electronic copies of all WCSS control point maps are available through:

McElhanney
4728 78A Street Close
Red Deer, AB T4P 2J2
Phone: (403) 346-7555
Fax: (403) 346-7530

If you are looking for a specific control point map, please contact us at info@wcss.ab.ca.