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[Eagleye]

Broken promise: BC's Coalbed Methane rules inferior
New reports by Dogwood Initiative show government commitments not met

Back in 2007 Gordon Campbell’s government promised BC would have the best standards for coalbed methane practices in North America. Almost three years later an investigation by Dogwood Initiative has found this promise was broken. The protection British Columbia offers landowners, communities, water and wildlife give less protection than other jurisdictions.

New reports from the Dogwood Initiative confirm provincial rules on coalbed methane exploring, drilling and production do not live up to the standards set in other places to safeguard against the intense industrial development that accompanies coalbed methane.

Coalbed methane is an unconventional form of natural gas. The number of proposals has skyrocketed since 2007 when the provincial government declared it to be a cornerstone of its Energy Plan. There has recently been significant controversy over projects in the Telkwa, Fernie, Princeton, Campbell River and the Sacred Headwaters areas.

Dogwood Initiative’s Best Practices for Coalbed Methane in BC report documents other jurisdictions more rigorous requirements for:

1. Protecting water quality;
2. Flaring gases;
3. Cumulative impacts;
4. Consultation and unbiased decision-making;
5. Royalties for public resources;
6. Reclamation of land damaged;
7. Lessening noise pollution;
8. Visual Impacts; and
9. Setback from houses and schools.

BC’s broken promise is especially troubling given the government continues to provide massive subsidies ($539 million was budgeted in 2010 for royalty reductions and road and pipeline credits to the oil and gas industry) of taxpayers’ money effectively subsidizing fossil fuel developments like coalbed methane.

“If the government wants to overcome the widespread community opposition to coalbed methane they’re going to have to strengthen their rules,” commented Dogwood Initiative Executive Director Will Horter. “So far they have not met any of the best practices in North America.”

The report, Citizens Guide for Coalbed Methane in BC, is designed to help people affected by proposed coalbed methane operations in their communities to understand the potential impacts and to help them participate more effectively in the approval processes to ensure their interests are protected.

The reports are available online at http://www.dogwoodinitiative.org/publications/reports/reports.

[IronNoggin]

...Gordon Campbell’s government promised...

Not to downplay the seriousness of this particular topic, but it VERY much seems nowadays that you can start almost any discussion relating to BC's twisted politics with that lead-in statement. The list of broken promises, and downright LIES is enormous at this point. Yet the Sheeple continue to flock to his side come vote time. 

[Bavarian Raven]

Not to downplay the seriousness of this particular topic, but it VERY much seems nowadays that you can start almost any discussion relating to BC's twisted politics with that lead-in statement. The list of broken promises, and downright LIES is enormous at this point. Yet the Sheeple continue to flock to his side come vote time.

not to change the course of the discussion but its becuz most people dont care. they think "what ever bad happens won't affect me in my life time, so why should i care?"just my opinion

[speycaster]

You have to understand that if breathing was not an automatic reflex 95% of the people in the world would die, they would not have the intelligence to initiate the breathing process.    That is why gordo and his bunch get re-elected.