Holy Dyin'! They Are Fracking in My Door Yard!

What is happening in the Valley?

South Western Energy (SWN) has been contacting residents in the Miramichi Watershed for access to private property to do seismic testing for shale gas exploration. Landowners in the  area have reported being offered $75 for allowing access to their land. In addition, they would be paid $200/km of seismic line across their property. $350/ kilometer if trees have to be cut. Every 200 meters along the seismic line, a 40-foot deep hole is drilled and a small dynamite charge is exploded. When similar seismic testing was done in Penobsquis (near Sussex), NB it shook homes, cracked windows, turned water brown and 60 homes lost their water supply (source: Concerned citizens of Penobquis website). 

What is hydraulic fracturing

(hydro-fracking)?

Shale gas extraction uses a new technique called hydraulic fracturing, which allows a company to drill down and then horizontally under the ground (up to 2.5 kilometers).  Large amounts of water, mixed with sand and chemicals are pushed into the well at very high pressure, creating cracks or fractures in the shale, which makes the gas available for removal. France, South Africa and New York State have moratoriums (no activity and more time to learn about the process) on shale gas exploration until more is known about the risks of this type of drilling.  Nova Scotia has a temporary moratorium on Shale Gas exploration/drilling (reported on CBC Radio’s The Current on May 12, 2011).

What happens if Shale Gas is found?

If the seismic testing shows that there is geology that may contain shale gas, then drilling and hydro-fracking could be carried out to extract the gas. Some of the concerns and potential risks are:

*** Large volumes of clean water are used in the shale gas extraction process (hydraulic fracturing), 4 + million gallons of water per session, with up to 20 fracks per well.  This may greatly impact our local watershed and wildlife.

*** Large volumes of contaminated water are produced.  This water contains a mixture of sand and unknown, “secret” chemicals, which need to be dealt with safely. Not all the contaminated water comes back to the surface.  This leads to the question, where does it go? Our current provincial regulations are not adequately equipped to deal with the safe handling of this contaminated water.

*** Large tankers carrying heavy loads of water and toxic chemicals pose a risk to the environment, human and wildlife health.

*** Provincial safeguards are not enough to protect and/or compensate landowners who are impacted by spills, wells going dry or the contamination of  well water, associated with these operations.

*** There are very few studies available on environmental risks and impacts due

to shale gas extraction and horizontal hydro-fracking.

*** Seismic lines cut swaths through private land will impact wildlife

*** Hundreds of trucks and heavy equipments will produce dust and noise, impacting quality of life for residents.

*** There are also quality of life issues related to dynamiting and diesel generators creating noise pollution for residents and wildlife.

*** Are NB roads and bridges built to withstand a significant increase in industrial traffic?

*** NB-Department of Environment (DOE) does not have enough staff to monitor activities and properly study the issues; there are very few studies to guide them.

*** There will be few local jobs created from gas development; the work is not long-term.

*** Crown land access will allow the use of  “horizontal drilling” underground.  This horizontal drill could reach under private land, causing drilling related risks, even where private land owners decide not to allow companies to drill on their land.

These points have been made in media reports, example: CBC Radio, and studies, example: Duke University, Post Carbon Institute.

For more information on shale gas:

READ:

www.conservationcouncil.ca - Shale Gas Link

Google: fracking

http://www.ecologyaction.ca/content/hydraulic-fracturing-factsheet

http://atlantic.sierraclub.ca/en/we-are-fracking-out

Hughes, J. D. May 2011.  Will Natural Gas Fuel American in the 21st Century?  Post Carbon Institute.  Available online @ www.postcarbon.org

Jackson, R. et al. 2011. Research and Policy Recommendations for Hydraulic Fracturing and Shale-Gas Extraction.  Duke University.  Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences.  Retrieved from www.pnas.org

Osborn, S. et al. 2011. Methane contamination of drinking water accompanying gas-well drilling and hyraulic fracturing.  Duke Univeristy.  Retrieved from www.pnas.org/cgi/doi/10.1073/pnas.1100682108.

WATCH:

The documentary “GASLAND” by Josh Fox

(gaslandthemovie.com or on Facebook)

“The Facts of Fracking”

            by Dr. Anthony Ingaffea

“What You Need to Know about Natural Gas Production”

www.endocrinedisruption.com/chemicals.videoplayer.php

CONTACT:

Your neighbours because this is happening quickly & not enough people know about it.

Your local MLA with concerns and questions:

Constituency Office: Southwest Miramichi
137 Main Street
Blackville,  New Brunswick
E9B 1B9
Canada

Jake Stewart MLA 

Phone: (506) 843-7729

jake.stewart@gnb.ca

The Minister Of Natural Resources

Hon. Bruce Northrup

Phone: (506) 453-2510

bruce.northrup@gnb.ca

The Minister of Health

Hon. Madeleine Dubé

Phone: (506) 735-2528

madeleine.dube@gnb.ca

The Minister of Environment

Hon. Margaret Ann Blaney

Phone; (506) 444-5136

margaret-ann.blaney@gnb.ca

The Premier of New Brunswick

Premier David Alward

Telephone: (506) 453-2144

david.alward@gnb.ca

copied from an information brochure

"Holy Dine"      expression of awe
"Door Yard"     a yard in front of the front or back door of a house

Let's Have a Say

The purpose of this blog is to highlight people, events, places, arts, culture and anything that comes to mind about the Rural Community of Upper Miramichi.

 The Rural Community is the amalgamation of several small communities that flow along route 8, like McGivney and Boiestown, extends down to meet Doaktown. There are several communities that are off the main route like Holtville, Priceville and McNamee. There were 16 small communities that joined to become the Rural Community of Upper Miramichi.

http://www.uppermiramichi.ca/

Although not isolated by any means, the residents of Central Miramichi have vocabulary all of their own, that can confuse anyone that is "not from around here".  "Let's Have a Say" is a term used to signify the desire to have a chat.  This is what we would like to do with this blog, is to chat about our community.  For those of you, "not from around here", this will give you an opportunity to get to know us and for us residents, a reminder why this is such a great community.


Having a Say can be seen just about anywhere; in the restaurant, at the gas station, at the rink or on the road.