The Fourth Session of the 17th Legislative Assembly
NORTHWEST TERRITORIES HANSARD UNEDITED TRANSCRIPT (PDF) MONDAY, JUNE 3, 2013 YELLOWKNIFE, NWT [Excerpts from pages 11, 24, 25, 26 & 27]
“… MEMBER’S STATEMENT ON ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW OF CONOCOPHILLIPS FOR HORIZONTAL HYDRAULIC FRACTURING (FRACKING) PROJECT
MR. BROMLEY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Final comments are due today as the Sahtu Land and Water Board decide whether to refer to environmental assessment the proposal by ConocoPhillips to test horizontal, multistage fracking. I’m urging the board to issue direction for a review.
Only last year the board issued a decision referring a similar proposal by MGM to environmental review. In issuing that decision, the board noted that because this is the first proposal of horizontal fracturing in the NWT, significant public concerns have been identified. There is concern regarding the environmental effects of hydraulic fracturing given the controversy elsewhere, and given the potential risks to surface and groundwater, referral to environmental review was warranted. All of these concerns are just as valid and pressing with the ConocoPhillips proposal.
Most importantly, we have yet to set limits and thresholds based on publicly set goals in relation to cumulative impacts. Regulatory mechanisms do not exist to actually enforce those targets, and monitoring enforcement and adaptive management processes on which to base permits and management of unconventional oil and gas exploration and development have not been developed.
More specifically, there are no plans for detailed monitoring or mitigation of greenhouse gas impacts including those directly related to the ConocoPhillips application, ongoing project activities or resulting from combustion of any oil or gas that eventually may be produced. Given the comprehensive and daunting understanding that humankind simply cannot afford to burn 80 percent of the already proven global reserves of hydrocarbons, this is surprising.
Public concern remains high in the Sahtu, territorially and beyond. Several jurisdictions in Canada and globally are realizing greater impacts than predicted and moving to restrict or even ban fracking. Questions remain about financial liability from environmental damage of extractive operations. The public is already paying enough to clean up or stabilize the toxic consequences left behind after inadequate reviews.
Our Ministers of Environment and development repeatedly purport to be environmental stewards. In recognition of the hazards of premature fracking and testing prior to establishing limits and thresholds with plans to limit cumulative impacts, and the monitoring and enforcement mechanisms needed to assure this, have the Ministers urged the board to remain consistent and refer the ConocoPhillips to environmental assessment to protect our people?
I will be asking questions.
MR. SPEAKER: Thank you, Mr. Bromley. …”
See how the honourable Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, Mr. Miltenberger answers Mr Bromley’s question here.
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