Kennetcook, Nova Scotia, February 20, 2013

 

A citizens coalition has formed in East Hants to express their concern around fracking waste water which has been found to be leaking from ponds and holding containers located near an elementary and high school in Kennetcook.

 

Fracking is a controversial drilling method that uses a mixture of chemicals, water and sand to fracture surrounding rock and release shale gas. The practice has raised concerns about contamination of surrounding drinking water. And now, Nov Scotia environment has determined that water ponds and waste water containers in Kennetcook that have been sitting idle for the past five years have indeed been leaking. The ponds contain water and sand used for fracking, but also chemicals which the company does not have to disclose, and natural contaminants from the shale such as radioactive materials and metals.

 

Nova Scotia Environment has tested the soil around the pond/waste water container and determined that the contaminants that have leaked are not serious or abundant, “The soil tested negative for naturally occurring radioactive materials, and there were some elevated levels of chlorides near where a leak happened, but they are within safe limits.” says Lori Errington of Nova Scotia Environment. Yet, this has not satisfied local residents and parents whose children are attending school near to one of the leaking wells who are concerned about the other chemicals that may have leached into the ground.

 

Despite the assurances of Nova Scotia Environment, studies have identified chemicals that are used in fracking are carcinogenic and hazardous to human health, and citizens have not been provided with details as to the contents of the leakage, how long the ponds and containers have been leaking, whether the chemicals from the leaking ponds have entered the watershed that supplies drinking water to the schools, and whether children and students have been exposed to the hazardous chemicals that are prevalent in hydraulic fracturing processes.

 

A moratorium has been imposed on fracking in the province while the government studies the practice. Meanwhile the only wells that have been fracked in the province are demonstrating their inability to prevent leakage into the surrounding environment. The next stage of development includes up to 250 wells in the corridor between Noel and Kennetcook if the fracking moratorium is lifted. Given that an area which has been fracked in three wells is demonstrating some of the huge problems associated with the wastewater – citizens in the area are concerned that if that happens, the Nova Scotia government is entirely ill-equipped to prevent further contamination of drinking water, addressing air quality pollutionissues and preventing surface contamination, further endangering the health of children in our community.  

 

For further information:

East Hants Concerned Citizens Coalition

Erin Coldrick

Ph: 369-2193