Category Archives: Case News

Fracking banned by Quebec government, The new Parti Quebecois government hasn’t wasted any time hinting about a long-term ban on the shale gas industry by Canadian Press, September 20, 2012, Vancouver Sun QUEBEC — The new Parti Quebecois government hasn’t … Continue reading →

Holding Frackers Accountable for Groundwater Pollution: An Analysis of Canada’s Liability Regimes for Hydraulic Fracturing by Adam Shedletzky, University of Toronto Law School for Environment Probe, July 30, 2012 Several cases of suspected groundwater contamination due to faulty well casings … Continue reading →

An extraordinarily brave woman coming to Convention National Farmers Union Region 7 (Alberta) Newsletter, Spring 2012 Related to Jessica’s case, the NFU passed a resolution at the 2011 convention calling for a moratorium on hydraulic fracturing. In the NFU news release … Continue reading →

Counter-terrorism unit set up in Alberta to help protect energy industry, public by John Cotter, June 6, 2012, The Canadian Press The federal government has set up a counter-terrorism unit in Alberta and one of its main jobs will be … Continue reading →

Counter-terrorism unit set up in Alberta to protect energy industry (original headline) by The Canadian Press, June 6, 2012 The federal government has set up a counter-terrorism unit in Alberta to protect the energy industry. Attachments Counter-terrorism unit set up in … Continue reading →

Counter-terrorism unit to protect Alberta energy industry by The Canadian Press, June 6, 2012, CBC News The federal government has set up a counter-terrorism unit in Alberta and one of its main jobs will be to help protect the energy … Continue reading →

Dealing with open gov’t a challenge by Collin Gallant, June 6, 2012, Medicine Hat News In a humdrum spring still recovering from the election hangover, Alberta’s privacy commissioner has been busy. It’s been a frantic six weeks for the body … Continue reading →

Can Fracking Be Cleaned Up? The International Energy Agency says yes, but it will take tougher regulations that force producers to apply the latest technologies by Kevin Bullis, June 5, 2012, Technology Review The IEA estimates that the measures needed … Continue reading →

Fracking hell, Vermont bans controversial practice, but Alberta still gung-ho by Suzy Thompson, May 24, 2012, Fast Foward Weekly Vermont has become the first state to order a ban on hydraulic fracturing, commonly referred to as fracking. When Vermont governor … Continue reading →

WATCH: Scientist Fracking Concerns by News Channel 34, May 23, 2012 A Canadian scientist was in Owego last night speaking about the potential dangers of hydrofracking.

Canadian Scientist and Internationally Known Speaker Coming to Region May 21-24 by News Channel 34, May 8, 2012 She is visiting New York to help residents understand the dire consequences of fracking from the “ruthlessly cruel” industry before it begins … Continue reading →

Canadian scientist against fracking headed to Southern Tier by Star Gazette, May 8, 2012 Ernst, an environmental consultant to the oil and gas industry, will present “The Truth and Consequences of Fracking” on four nights, May 21-24, in Elmira, Owego, … Continue reading →

Canadian activist touring N.Y. against fracking by The Ithaca Journal, May 6, 2012 A Canadian scientist fighting a gas company over contaminated well water in her home province is touring the Southern Tier and central New York with a message … Continue reading →

Fracking Down Under, An open letter to New Zealand by Fred Stenson, May 2012, Alberta Views Magazine New Zealand, I’m begging you to ignore what my province is telling you about fracking. A woman in Alberta, a long time oilfield employee … Continue reading →

Landmark Fracking Lawsuit starts with Twist in Alberta by Andrew Nikiforuk, April 27, 2012, GlobalResearch.ca

Landmark fracking lawsuit starts with twist by Andrew Nikiforuk, April 27, 2012, The Tyee.ca A landmark lawsuit against an energy giant and two Alberta government regulatory agencies concerning water well contamination by hydraulic fracturing started with an unusual twist in Alberta’s … Continue reading →

Restrict shale gas fracking to 600m from water supplies, says study, Researchers recommend ‘absolute minimum’ safe zone of 600m between fracking and aquifers by Press Association, April 25, 2012, The Guardian Controversial “fracking” for shale gas should only take place … Continue reading →

Encana sells Horseshoe Canyon stake to Toyota Tsusho for $602 million, monetizes CBM in southern Alberta by Dina O”Meara, April 21, 2012 Calgary Herald Encana stock…has dropped 46 per cent since last May….

Earth Day weekend has something for everyone by Tyler Clarke, Aril 20, 2012, The Prince Albert Daily Herald

Encana signs joint venture with Toyota Tsusho for 1/3 interest coalbed methane wells in southern Alberta by The Canadian Press, April 20, 2012 Encana announced Friday that the Japanese company will acquire a 32.5 per cent royalty interest in about … Continue reading →

Woman wins hard fought battle for information by Alex McCuaig, April 18, 2012, Medicine Hat News The privacy commissioner’s decision released Monday states Alberta Innovates — formerly the Alberta Research Council (ARC) — “had not established that it had exercised … Continue reading →

Ruling advances woman’s tainted water lawsuit, documents must be released, says Alberta information boss by Matthew McClure, April 17, 2012, Calgary Herald In a scathing decision that ends a three-year battle by Rosebud resident Jessica Ernst, the Office of the Information … Continue reading →

Alberta Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner Order F2012-06 Alberta Innovates – Technology Futures (previously Alberta Research Council) Case File Numbers F4743, F4762 March 30, 2012 (publicly released April 16, 2012) An Adjudicator has determined that Alberta Innovates – Technology … Continue reading →

16×9 Untested Science: Fracking natural gas controversy Published by 16x9onglobal to Youtube on April 13, 2012, originally released November 5, 2011 (Season 4 Ep. 10) Ernst Flaming Water Ernst presenting at Cochrane Ranch House, September 10, 2011

Ernst learned of alleged threat prior to Eagle Hill appearance by John Gleeson, March 27, 2012, Mountain View Gazette “Yes, I knew about it,” Ernst said. “What happens – and this is one of the parts about being fracked that is so … Continue reading →

Jessica Ernst rejects violence, threats as solution by John Gleeson, March 20, 2012, Mountain View Gazette An internationally recognized anti-fracking activist who spoke at Eagle Hill last week rejected “violence or threats” as an appropriate response to public concerns. “It’s a very … Continue reading →

Gas Wells Leak – Even Upside Down – in Australia 44% of gas wells leaking in the Tara Coalbed Methane field by Will Cottrell, March 14, 2012, Shaleshockmedia A study of a gas field in Queensland, Australia has found 44% of gas wells … Continue reading →

Breaking up is hard to do by Thomas Crosbie Media Ltd., March 11, 2012 Some, even in the scientific community, remain suspicious of the claims of fracking proponents. Tony Ingraffea is a professor of engineering at Cornell University. He has done significant … Continue reading →

Local Fracking Talk Brings Revelations by Edward Durand, March 8, 2012, indymedia Dr. John O’Connor and Jessica Ernst from Canada gave a series of talks on ‘The realities of hydraulic fracturing and associated health risks’ across Ireland….

Labour federation says energy companies made millions exploiting government loophole by Karen Kleiss, Edmonton Journal, March 7, 2012 The Alberta Federation of Labour says energy companies exploited a loophole in the province’s drilling stimulus programs, forcing the province to spend about $2.9 … Continue reading →

“The EPA can’t assess fracking in Leitrim” – Jessica Ernst by Leitrim Observer, March 6, 2012 Jessica Ernst addressing the meeting in the Bush Hotel where she gave a talk on Life inside a Frac Experiment. “Can the EPA assess the effects … Continue reading →

Jessica Ernst packs hall at Ballroom of Romance by Press Officer Love Leitrim, March 6, 2012,  mylocalnews They used to come from far and wide on bicycles to the iconic Ballroom of Romance, in its heyday in the 1950′s according to my aunt who … Continue reading →

Website for fracking fluid disclosure planned by Victoria Paterson, March 6, 2012, Mountainview Gazette Alberta’s energy regulator is heading towards a searchable online database disclosing the contents of fracking fluid – eventually. Cal Hill, the executive manager of the regulatory … Continue reading →

Canadian Provinces Follow US States in Hydraulic Fracing Guidelines, Rules by Paula Dittrick, March 5, 2012, Oil and Gas Journal The Alberta Energy Resources Conservation Board (ERCB) already has various directives in place that cover industry operating practices as outlined … Continue reading →

Alberta aims to get public onside in fracking debate, Province will stress education, transparency by Trish Audette, Edmonton Journal, March 5, 2012 “Public education, community engagement, even media engagement are themes that seem to be growing around this to make sure that we’re … Continue reading →

The Assessment Review Board Reduces Methane Contaminated Property’s Taxation Value to Zero by John M. Bulman, Weirfoulds LLP, March 2, 2012 An insurance broker the property owner consulted could not obtain insurance on the house and property because of the methane. … Continue reading →

Minister should do more to protect groundwater by Nielle Hawkwood, March 12, 2012, Rockyview Weekly I attended a meeting of Action for Agriculture at Balzac on March 2. At that meeting, I asked the Minister of Environment and Water why … Continue reading →

Driving Forward Public Acceptance For Hydraulic Fracturing In Canada By Building Trust Within Communities And Delivering Key Messages To Stakeholders Conference February 29 – March 1, 2012 in Calgary Comparing tried and tested tools and techniques and how to leverage associations to … Continue reading →

Fracking information meeting brings large crowd to the Clarion A Canadian ecologist Sligo Weekender, March 1, 2012 “I’ve been volunteering to warn people and Government research in Canada on how bad gas migration is into ground water and I’m an ordinary … Continue reading →