Provincial Blueprint a Smokescreen for Future Prosperity
Sackville Tribune-Post
8 August 2013
The Oil and Natural Gas Blueprint released in spring of 2013, highlights six commitments that the government has undertaken as a guide to lead them down the perilous road with shale gas.
The first promise in the Blueprint is one that countries all over the world pay lip-service to, environmental responsibility. This means protecting air, water and land from harm.
Every well pad in production has to allow the off gassing of methane, which is 20% more toxic than CO2, increasing greenhouse gas emissions for as long as that particular well is in operation.
The contamination of wells and aquifers caused by unconventional shale gas drilling is happening elsewhere and the huge amount of fresh water used in this process is an unacceptable use of a finite resource. Areas of land above horizontal drilling have been contaminated by chemicals and radioactive materials that rise to the surface in pools.
In what way then, is this an industry that will provide the care and consideration necessary to protect our air, land and water?
The second promise is to provide effective regulation and enforcement, however, we see catastrophe after catastrophe indicating that these regulations are not only unenforceable, but unrealistic when dealing with the day to day activities of an industry the consequences of which are not thoroughly understood.
Next we have an offer of better community relations. The government has approved proposals for fracking in N.B. without any meaningful consultation with more than a dozen municipalities and thirty environmental and health organizations all of whom support a moratorium. There is no indication that there will be improved communication in the future.
First Nations Engagement is number four with a "duty to consult", including discussions on the development process of the oil and gas industries. Here too consultation could have gone a long way toward preventing protest, civil disobedience and thirty subsequent arrests.
There is no definitive evidence that whatever gas exists in southeastern and southwestern N.B. is substantial enough to justify the notion of stability of supply, the fifth goal of the government. Once seismic testing has been completed the industry will know more, but the temptation to move into the drilling stage, having borne the expense of testing, will be strong and our landscapes would be devastated with little economic benefit to show for it.
The final commitment looks at future economic development. The government now suggests that we take advantage of the "golden age" of natural gas which would dot the landscape with drilling platforms.
Areas that draw tourists to N.B. along with agricultural land and marine areas would fall victim to a ruined landscape and increased air and water pollution. Anyone who doubts this should check online and find out what has happened in Pennsylvania.
Donna Mclellan for the
Tantramar Alliance Against Hydrofracking
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