Fracking: risk assessment on the horizon?
Last May, fellow independent MLA Bob Simpson and I asked Premier Clark to launch an independent investigation into hydraulic fracturing –fracking— a potentially dangerous process involving vast quantities of fresh water and chemicals used to fracture gas trapped in rock deep underground. Banned in several jurisdictions including France and Quebec, fracking has been linked to everything from water pollution, toxic gas leaks – even man-made earthquakes. Now, the BC government has, finally, announced a first step inquiring into BC's fracking industry.
It is no secret that the BC government is very close to the natural gas industry. The BC Oil and Gas Commission is a captured agency – operated by the industry itself; a self-regulatory organisation. In November, an excellent fracking expose “Untested Science” on Global TV’s 16:9 caught up with Minister Coleman after he backtracked on his promise to undertake an “extensive process of public consultation” before considering two 10 million litres/day water withdrawal permits from the Williston Reservoir near the town of Hudson’s Hope. Unbelievably, the permits had been quietly approved with no public consultation.
Watershed conservation groups, and many other civic groups committed to environmental sustainability have called for public consultation and an inquiry into the risks of fracking but their concerns have largely been kept at bay by the government.
Yesterday, the Fraser Basin Council, a non-profit society, won a $100,000 government contract to begin “phase one” of the risk assessment: “public engagement to inform the scope and terms of reference and identify concerns relating to oil and gas development.” The government wants to focus on public engagement before undertaking the risk assessment itself; a good idea so long as the government is truly committed to follow-through with the next phase: the risk assessment.
Government media release: http://www2.news.gov.bc.ca/news_releases_2009-2013/2011HLTH0109-001661.htm