HALIFAX, NS – Sierra Club Atlantic was shocked to learn that experimental fracking project planned for the West Coast of NL is expecting to ship fracking waste to Nova Scotia. The company, Shoal Point Energy, announced its plans at a community meeting in Cow Head, NL last week.
“We have had fracking waste discharges down municipal sewers and millions of litres simply go unaccounted for here in Nova Scotia, in spite of intense public outcry about the safety of fracking “ according to Gretchen Fitzgerald of Sierra Club Canada – Atlantic Canada Chapter, “Now we are hearing from a company in Western Newfoundland: ‘please approve this project, don’t worry, NS will take care of the waste.’ ”
The proposed project would involve drilling wells onshore and then going undersea horizontally to extract shale oil. The company involved admits the complex geological formations off Western Newfoundland make drilling challenging. Ultimately, rigs might be placed offshore, in the Port au Port Bay. Fracking waste can contain any number of chemicals, as well as oil and radioactive elements. Each well drilled can result in millions of litres of waste fluid.
“We are actively opposing oil and gas development in the Gulf of St. Lawrence because we fear impacts on this vital ecosystem, which is home to such an abundance of marine life and is key to fishing and tourism industries. We feel this project is far too risky to be allowed to proceed,” says Mary Gorman of the Save Our Seas and Shores Coalition.
“As good neighbours, Newfoundland and Labrador needs to agree to thorough consultation with other Gulf provinces and Aboriginal leaders before putting this ecosystem at risk. To date, it has failed to do so,” adds Fitzgerald, “We cannot approve these projects – be they fracking or more conventional offshore oil drilling - without taking responsibility for dealing with the waste they create and the risks to the entire Gulf region."
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