CALGARY — The lobby group that represents most of Canada’s major oil and gas producers has released a set of five “guiding principles” to govern the use of controversial hydraulic fracturing or “fracking” enhanced recovery methods.
The guidelines are designed to reassure the public and come one day after New York State’s environmental regulator extended by 30 days until Dec. 12 a public comment period on rules for natural gas drilling that could end its year-long ban on hydraulic fracturing.
The decision was frustrating to companies keen to open New York’s portion of the gas-rich Marcellus shale deposit but welcomed by critics who fear the method, which involves breaking up tight rock formations deep underground using pressurized liquids and chemicals, will endanger groundwater.
Fracturing has also been put on hold in Quebec and
— We will safeguard the quality and quantity of regional surface and groundwater resources, through sound wellbore construction practices, sourcing fresh water alternatives where appropriate, and recycling water for reuse as much as practical.
— We will measure and disclose water use with the goal of continuing to reduce our effect on the environment.
— We will support the development of fracturing fluid additives with the least environmental risks.
-We will support the disclosure of fracturing fluid additives.
— We will continue to advance, collaborate on and communicate technologies and best practices that reduce the potential environmental risks of hydraulic fracturing.
But what they say and are proposing (will support) by these "principles" needs to to be practiced.
