BC Government Goes 1 for 5 on Coalbed Methane


February 15, 2007 (Smithers, B.C.) – A concerned citizens group says the BC government’s recent announcement on coalbed methane addresses one of their five major concerns with a proposed gas field near Telkwa, in northwest BC.

Citizens Concerned About Coalbed Methane states that without addressing the outstanding concerns, the Telkwa coalbed methane project cannot proceed.

“Requiring wastewater re-injection is a positive step, but there is a question of whether government is simply using this announcement to draw attention away from our other major concerns,” said Merran Smith with Citizens Concerned About Coalbed Methane.

The group lists the following steps as being necessary for coalbed methane development to proceed in a socially and environmentally responsible manner:

  1. Communities must have the ability to decide whether coalbed methane development is compatible with their economy and environment.
  2. Water resources must be better protected through stronger regulations for wastewater disposal (partly addressed by recent announcement), three years of baseline monitoring prior to activity, and banning toxic fracturing materials.
  3. Well density limits must be established in order to protect communities’ rural landscapes.
  4. Compliance and enforcement must be assigned to a well-staffed Ministry of Environment, not the Oil and Gas Commission, and non-compliance fines increased to serve as effective deterrents.
  5. Companies must be required to submit long-term development plans showing the scale of proposed development.

Smith said the announcement’s other components – the use of “the most advanced technology” and “fully engaging communities and First Nations” – are too vague to evaluate.

“It is unclear whether and how these other components improve on the status quo,” said Greg Brown with Citizens Concerned about Coalbed Methane, adding that the Telkwa project’s proponent had already promised to re-inject wastewater.

“This government needs to ask itself whether North America’s premier salmon and steelhead river is the place to test an industry with such a poor track record,” said Brown.

Contact:
Merran Smith: (604) 816-5636
Greg Brown: (250) 877-9402