Fracking may jeopardize Gros Morne UNESCO status, ‘Very clearly this is an issue of concern to us,’ UNESCO unit chief says

Fracking may jeopardize Gros Morne UNESCO status, ‘Very clearly this is an issue of concern to us,’ UNESCO unit chief says by CBC News, May 17, 2013
Gros Morne National Park’s status as a world heritage site may be in jeopardy due to plans for controversial oil exploration on Newfoundland’s west coast, CBC News has learned. Black Spruce Exploration wants to use hydraulic fracturing — the so-called fracking process of extracting natural gas from shale rock layers deep within the earth — to find oil and gas in Sally’s Cove and other areas, which lie just a few hundred metres from the boundaries of the park. … Debonnet is recommending that the world heritage committee monitor the developments when it holds its annual meeting in Cambodia in June. He also said UNESCO is keeping tabs on Canada’s environmental review process. “The fact that there is also a plan to use fracking techniques with very known potential environmental impacts, this issue is of concern to UNESCO,” he said. The recommendations state that the possible impacts of drilling and hydraulic fracturing include “offshore leakage reaching the property, pollutants affecting pristine lakes on the property, and the risk of rock fall from high cliffs caused by shocks during hydraulic fracturing, including areas of the property with high visitation.” UNESCO also recommends sending a special mission to the park and surrounding areas to assess the potential risks. While Black Spruce Exploration is following the appropriate review process, the federal environment commissioner has warned about the lack of a proper regulatory framework for fracking in Canada. [Emphasis added]

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