Saturday, 17 December 2011
Guiding principles for natural gas regulations announced
press release
FREDERICTON (CNB) - An update on the environmental protection plan for the oil and gas industry being developed by the provincial government was released by Natural Resources Minister Bruce Northrup.
His update included an explanation of the principles that the provincial government is following in developing regulations for the industry.
"Our government continues to focus on strenghtening and modernizing New Brunswick's guidelines, laws and regulations for the oil and gas industry," Northrup said. "Considerable work has been doen so far by several departments, and we look forward to releasing full details of the world-class regulations in the spring and to obtain input from the public and stakeholders."
Environment Minister Margaret-Ann Blaney said the environmental protection plan under development re-iterates the provincial government's commitment to safeguard the water and environment of all New Brunswickers.
"As I have said from the start, we will ensure that if a natural gas industry from shale can be developed in this province, we will be ready in every sense of the word, and our top priority is protecting our environment," Blaney said.
As part of the ongoing work associated with the new regulations, officials have taken the following steps:
The environmental protection plan is based on the following 12 principles:
Northrup said he was pleased with the comprehensive framework being developed, as it will be applied to the shale gas industry if it is deemed to be economically feasible following current exploration efforts.
"We are pleased with the direction and the amount of work that has been carried out, and we look forward to sharing all the details with the full environmental protection plan with New Brunswickers in the spring," he said.
Public and stakeholder meetings have been held throughout the province, with more than 1, 800 people participating in presentations on the potential impact that the shale gas industry will have on New Brunswick's economy, water and geology.
Northrup said the provincial government intends to continue to communicate with New Brunswickers about the shale gas industry.
His update included an explanation of the principles that the provincial government is following in developing regulations for the industry.
"Our government continues to focus on strenghtening and modernizing New Brunswick's guidelines, laws and regulations for the oil and gas industry," Northrup said. "Considerable work has been doen so far by several departments, and we look forward to releasing full details of the world-class regulations in the spring and to obtain input from the public and stakeholders."
Environment Minister Margaret-Ann Blaney said the environmental protection plan under development re-iterates the provincial government's commitment to safeguard the water and environment of all New Brunswickers.
"As I have said from the start, we will ensure that if a natural gas industry from shale can be developed in this province, we will be ready in every sense of the word, and our top priority is protecting our environment," Blaney said.
As part of the ongoing work associated with the new regulations, officials have taken the following steps:
- fact-finding missions to other jurisdictions
- an on-going review of evolving regulations in other jurisdictions throughout North America
- reports, critiques, scientific studies, monitoring results and model standards presented by academia, industry and non-governmental organizations
- consultations with subject matter experts within the provincial government; and
- the convening of the New Brunswick Natural Gas Forum, held June 23.
The environmental protection plan is based on the following 12 principles:
- monitoring and protecting water quality
- addressing the need for sustainable water use
- protecting public health and safety
- protecting communities and the environment
- reducting financial risk and protecting landowner rights
- addressing potential impacts of geophysical (seismic) activities
- taking steps to prevent potential contaminants from escaping the well bore
- verifying geological containment outside the well bore
- managing wastes and taking steps to prevent potential contaminants from escaping the well pad
- addressing air emissions
- maintaining an effective regulatory framework; and
- sharing information
Northrup said he was pleased with the comprehensive framework being developed, as it will be applied to the shale gas industry if it is deemed to be economically feasible following current exploration efforts.
"We are pleased with the direction and the amount of work that has been carried out, and we look forward to sharing all the details with the full environmental protection plan with New Brunswickers in the spring," he said.
Public and stakeholder meetings have been held throughout the province, with more than 1, 800 people participating in presentations on the potential impact that the shale gas industry will have on New Brunswick's economy, water and geology.
Northrup said the provincial government intends to continue to communicate with New Brunswickers about the shale gas industry.
Now for a little poetry...
The two poems below on the subject of fracking were found at the blog Zen Moments. You can access it at the following link: http://thezenofgavin.blogspot.com
Fracking: Is It Worth It? (A Poem)
When the water ceases to flow
And the hazy moon loses it's glow
Will you pack up your bags and go?
Leave the mess for community show?
When the leaves give up their dance
Being slipped poison by chance
With propaganda people put in trance
If only the king had took a glance
It's a Fracking Devil of a Thing...
To the tools who are the fools,
The earth is but only a rock
For them dirty hands full of sin
The deal must be signed
So the greedy mouth can grin
Signing away mother nature
Trees bright green in nature,
Soon to be gone by swines, fools
The flowers look, will lose the grin
First, grass is scraped revealing rock
As illegible writing has been signed
The trees scream to muddy sand of sin
The devils trident screech of sin
As the pain is heard from nature
Trusted people let this be signed?
Now revealing the true game of fools
The tridents sting the earth rock
See the demon lovers with their grin
Mother nature lost her grin
The drills push hard with devils sin
Scrapping rough against the rock
As poison bleeds in water-filled nature
To think all this money for fools
All know it shouldn't have been signed
Drills it did fracking signed
The profiteers with a grin
Love to kick the face of the fools
While brushing away my own sin
People start standing up for nature
With one fist clenched with rock
Now it's time to frack the rock
Water is now lost due to paper signed
The death is sung for nature
Sucking out the life with grin
Oh the devil and his many sin
How did we become such fools
Strew man with funny ads for fools
They could care now about sin
Licking lips with money and a grin
Friday, 16 December 2011
Thursday, 15 December 2011
Natural Resources Minister didn't show today; we were stood up
- picture courtesy of Charles LeBlanc
Tuesday, 13 December 2011
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