Residents around Lake Ainslie in Cape Breton are concerned they’ll be the next to deal with fracking fallout. “Fracking” is hydraulic fracturing, a process used to drill for natural gas; it has been associated with fouled reservoirs and other environmental problems, and the province of Nova Scotia is now figuring how to regulate the industry.
PetroWorth Resources, an Ontario-based company, received final approval to drill an exploratory oil and gas well at MacIsaac Point. Approvals to drill have in cases along the Minas Basin led to the drilling of fracking test wells.
Jennifer West, a geologist at Ecology Action Centre, says PetroWorth has been “secretive and disrespectful.”
Residents are holding a public meeting Oct. 6 at the Whycocomagh Lion’s Hall, and have invited the company and Nova Scotia departments of energy and environment. So far they’ve heard no response.
Rebecca Parkins, a local resident, says the communities have not been consulted or given clear information. “We don’t have a date when drilling starts. Their consultation has been a PR endeavour. They did not answer the questions the community wanted answered.”
Parkins questions drilling in a large freshwater lake and is concerned about pollution and safety hazards posed by a rig 600 metres from shore. She says the company is permitted to use 87,000 litres of lake water per day without permit.
“This industry is pretty self-regulatory,” she says. “It does not require full environmental assessments—a company would have to do a lot more to put in a small wind energy project.”
This article appears in Sep 29 – Oct 5, 2011.
Kiss Lake Ainslie goodbye. And kiss goodbye any body of water into which fracking chemicals leak, or are injected. Unless residents stand up actively, with fortitude, and make concerned and ongoing effort against this type of development. This includes groundwater, rivers, aquifers, and wells. Smoochie smooch. Bye-bye. Gone forever.