Christy Clark’s announcement on dangerous gas fracking ‘misses the mark’
BC Premier Christy Clark today announced moves which she claims will make the growing practice of fracking to extract shale gas more "open and transparent."
The new measures, which include a government online registry, were announced at the Oil and Gas Conference currently underway in Fort Nelson and were reportedly developed in consultation with industry.
"This move by the BC government is weak and inadequate because it fails to properly address an industry practice which is facing increasing scrutiny and regulation worldwide - this announcement misses the mark of what is needed to stop the environmental destruction that fracking causes,” said Tria Donaldson, a campaigner for the Wilderness Committee.
Hydraulic fracturing, also known as fracking, is a process in which large quantities of pressurized water, laced with hazardous chemicals like benzene, are pumped underground to free up gas deposits trapped in shale bedrock. The process has been widely linked to water contamination and serious impacts on human health.
The BC government’s online registry would, as of January 2012, make publicly available the location of fracking operations and require companies to list the chemical additives used in fracking. "While having fracking companies disclose chemical additives in water is a good first step, the plan outlined today does not go nearly far enough," said Donaldson. "There are serious risks associated with fracking, both in terms of the environment and human health."
Governments all over the world are taking steps to halt fracking operations, with bans or moratoriums in place in France, Quebec and US states such as New Jersey.
“Even after today's announcement, British Columbia is trailing far behind other jurisdictions when it comes to taking the dangers of fracking seriously - that’s why this feels so underwhelming,” said Donaldson. “Ultimately, we need to stop this reckless fracking for gas altogether.”
For more information please contact:
Tria Donaldson, Pacific Coast Campaigner, Wilderness Committee, cell: 250-686-9249
