Category Archives: Case Related
WATCH Two First Nation women named activists of year
WATCH Two First Nation women named activists of year by APTN National News, October 30, 2012 The Council of Canadians call themselves Canada’s largest citizen organization known for its social and economic activism. They took time out of their annual … Continue reading →
Alberta’s New Super ERCB: Single Regulator or Franken-Child?
Single Reglator or Franken-Child? by Adam Driedzig, Staff Counsel, October 2012, Environmental Law Centre News Brief Page 7, Vol. 27, No. 3
Encana Moves into New Eco-Friendly Facilities
Encana Moves into New Eco-Friendly Facilities by Cori Coffin, October 29, 2012, KREX To accommodate its growth in the past decade, one oil and gas giant has a new home on the Western Slope. NewsChannel 5 was given a tour … Continue reading →
Lois Frank, grandmother and professor, receives award for her courage fighting fracking
Lois Frank, grandmother, professor and Blood Tribe member, receives award for her courage fighting fracking and standing up for her rights by Council of Canadians, October 27, 2012, Nanaimo, British Columbia Source: Ernst presentation at Mount Royal University, October 12, 2012 … Continue reading →
Alberta Bill 2: More deregulation for the oil and gas industry and hydraulic fracturing
Bill 2 Coverage October 24 – 27, 2012 Bill 2 – The New Alberta Oil & Gas Regulator – Quick Review by the Alberta Surface Rights Group October 27, 2012 – One section specifies an “enforced dispute resolution” which all parties would … Continue reading →
County, Province to cohost meeting about oil and gas drilling in and near Alberta’s most expensive postal code
County, Province to cohost meeting about oil and gas drilling by Kimberley Massey, October 22, 2012, Rockyview Weekly Rocky View County and the Alberta Energy Resources Conservation Board (ERCB) plan to hold a public open house to discuss oil and … Continue reading →
Kimberly Mildenstein of Eagle Hill Alberta Spared Criminal Record for Uttering Threats after Numerous Concerns to the Energy Resources Conservation Board Were Ignored
Kimberly Mildenstein of Eagle Hill Alberta Spared Criminal Record by The Canadian Press, October 23, 2012, Huffingtonpost.ca [Refer also to: Fracking Canada: No Duty of Care Frack Protester Lois Frank has charges stayed Crown Stays Intimidation Charges Against Blood Tribe Woman Crown decides … Continue reading →
Braid: Lax donation laws lead to toxic political brew
Braid: Lax donation laws lead to toxic political brew by Don Braid, October 25, 2012, Calgary Herald The standards are so slack, in fact, that the chief electoral officer is right now forced by law not to release details of … Continue reading →
Canadian Environment protection disappears overnight from web description of federal bill
Environment protection disappears overnight from web description of federal bill by The Canadian Press, October 24, 2012, Calgary Herald The word “environment” was suddenly deleted from a federal government website that described Conservative proposals to change the law protecting Canada’s … Continue reading →
Encana posts big loss, to split U.S. asset sale package
Encana posts $1.24-billion quarterly loss by The Canadian Press, October 24, 2012, Calgary Herald Encana and other producers have been grappling with a North American oversupply of natural gas…. Since it spun off its oil and refinery assets into Cenovus Energy Inc. … Continue reading →
Fracking poses many issues
Fracking poses many issues by Ross Dabrusin, October 23, 2012, Mountain View Gazette In the case of groundwater, industry says that no groundwater or wells have been contaminated. There are numerous documented cases in Canada, the U.S., and Europe which show the … Continue reading →
Omnibudget could have an impact on fracking chemical exemptions
Omnibudget could have an impact on fracking chemical exemptions by Emma Lui, October 19, 2012, Rabble.ca The omnibudget “amends the Hazardous Materials Information Review Act to transfer the powers and functions of the Hazardous Materials Information Review Commission to the … Continue reading →
Sinopec Daylight, Alberta landowner go to court over pipeline leak
Sinopec Daylight, Alberta landowner go to court over pipeline leak by Dave Cooper, October 18, 2012, Edmonton Journal EDMONTON – A leak from a small oil-collector pipeline on Shane Tower’s Breton-area property in June looked like a dark stain on … Continue reading →
Encana shares rise on Exxon takeover speculation, Analysts split on whether ExxonMobil wallet is still open
Encana shares rise on Exxon takeover speculation, Analysts split on whether ExxonMobil wallet is still open by Dan Healing, October 18, 2012, Calgary Herald CALGARY — Speculation that ExxonMobil Corp. might still be in a buying mood after offering $3.1 … Continue reading →
Geoff Meggs and George Heyman differ on fracking in Vancouver-Fairview NDP race
Geoff Meggs and George Heyman differ on fracking in Vancouver-Fairview NDP race by Carlito Pablo, October 18, 2012, Straight.com They both say they don’t like fracking. What Geoff Meggs and George Heyman intend to do about it is another matter. … Continue reading →
Alberta gets tough after screwing up oilsands protection
Alberta gets tough after screwing up oilsands protection by Don Braid, October 17, 2012, Calgary Herald Whenever something as big and expensive as a new provincewide, all-embracing environmental agency comes along, the wise sleuth looks for a power struggle. And … Continue reading →
Alberta takes step toward improved environmental monitoring, but questions remain
Alberta takes step toward improved environmental monitoring, but questions remain by Keith Gerein, October 17, 2012, Edmonton Journal EDMONTON – The Alberta government is set to install a new guardian for its air, water, land and wildlife by creating an … Continue reading →
Alberta’s new pollutant-monitoring agency to look beyond oil sands
Alberta’s new pollutant-monitoring agency to look beyond oil sands by Nathan Vanderklippe, October 17, 2012, The Globe and Mail The ugly scars left on the northern Alberta landscape by the oil sands have prompted calls from around the world for … Continue reading →
Alberta government said it is creating a scientific agency to monitor the environmental impacts of tarsands production
Alberta government said it is creating a scientific agency to monitor the environmental impacts of tarsands production as the industry seeks to expand its markets into regions that are increasingly critical of the process by Jeffrey Jones, Reuters, October 17, … Continue reading →
New Brunswick chief health officer Dr. Cleary warns of ‘boomtown effect’ with shale gas
New Brunswick chief health officer Dr. Cleary warns of ‘boomtown effect’ with shale gas by Kevin Bissett, Canadian Press, October 16, 2012, FREDERICTON — New Brunswick’s infrastructure and legislation aren’t strong enough to ensure public health is protected should the … Continue reading →
Dr. Eillish Cleary’s shale gas report avoids moratorium debate
Cleary’s shale gas report avoids moratorium debate by CBC News, October 16, 2012 Dr. Eilish Cleary spoke with reporters on Tuesday afternoon, a day after she released a report outlining her concerns over the potential shale gas industry in New … Continue reading →
Phased-in shale gas could deter industry in New Brunswick says lobby group CAPP
Phased-in shale gas could deter industry, lobby group says, Investors may move on if they can’t move quickly by CBC News, October 16, 2012 The Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers says a go-slow approach to shale gas development in New … Continue reading →
New Brunswick premier says reports will help decide future of shale gas industry
New Brunswick premier says reports will help decide future of shale gas industry by Kevin Bissett, 16 Oct 2012, Canadian Press Cleary spoke publicly Tuesday about her report, saying the 30 recommendations she makes are the result of looking at the … Continue reading →
Potential health risks cited in New Brunswick Chief Medical Officer of Health report on shale gas industry
Potential health risks cited in report on shale gas industry New Brunswick’s chief medical health officer recommends ongoing monitoring by CBC News, October 15, 2012 New Brunswick’s chief medical officer of health says the Alward government needs to take “targeted … Continue reading →
Gas explosion at Hutterite colony seriously injures man (with video)
Gas explosion at Hutterite colony injures man (with video) by Calgary Herald, October 15, 2012 A 64-year-old man was flown to a Calgary hospital Monday morning after he was injured in a gas explosion at a Quonset hut in a … Continue reading →
Federal clean-up won’t get it all, Need another $40 billion to remove contamination
Federal clean-up won’t get it all, Need another $40 billion to remove contamination by Suzy Thompson, October 11, 2012, Fast Forward Weekly On October 3, Environment Minister Peter Kent announced the federal government was launching the second phase of its … Continue reading →
Don’t sell the water, Risks involved in creating an Alberta market
Don’t sell the water, Risks involved in creating an Alberta market by Suzy Thompson, October 11, 2012, Fast Forward Weekly Water Matters, an Alberta-based non-governmental research and advocacy group, released its final report in a three-part series studying water issues … Continue reading →
EPA fracking investigation in Wyoming revisited after objections, Validity of initial water sampling results confirmed
EPA fracking investigation in Wyoming revisited after objections, Validity of initial water sampling results confirmed by Scott K. Johnson, October 11, 2012, Arstechnica In December of last year, Ars reported on a major EPA study in Pavillion, Wyoming that concluded hydraulic fracking … Continue reading →
Fracking area water again shows pollutants, EPA says
Fracking area water again shows pollutants, EPA says by Mark Drajem, October 11, 2012, Bloomberg News in Tulsa World The latest round of test results on water in Pavillion, Wyo., show pollutants “consistent” with those from last year that were … Continue reading →
Wyoming Water Tests in Line With EPA Finding on Fracking
Wyoming Water Tests in Line With EPA Finding on Fracking by Mark Drajem, October 11, 2012, Bloomberg News in Business week The latest test results on water near Pavillion, Wyoming, show pollutants “consistent” with findings used last year to link … Continue reading →
Phase V Documents, Pavillion Wyoming, Summary of Methods & Results (including Section A and B) released by the EPA October 10, 2012
Phase V Documents, Pavillion Wyoming, Summary of Methods & Results (including Section A and B) released by the EPA October 10, 2012 Investigation of Ground Water Contamination near Pavillion, Wyoming: Phase V Sampling Event Summary of Methods and Results (PDF) (14 pp, … Continue reading →
EPA: Pavillion, Wyo., Natural-Gas Site Tests ‘Consistent’ With Earlier Data
EPA: Pavillion, Wyo., Natural-Gas Site Tests ‘Consistent’ With Earlier Data by Dow Jones Newswires, October 10, 2012, Fox Business New tests of water surrounding natural-gas drilling sites near Pavillion, Wyo., have turned up results that are “generally consistent” with earlier … Continue reading →
Teen has stomach removed after bar serves nitrogen cocktail
Teen has stomach removed after bar serves nitrogen cocktail by Reuters, October 8, 2012 LONDON — British surgeons removed a teenager’s stomach to save her life after she drank a cocktail made with liquid nitrogen during a night out with … Continue reading →
New Brunswick Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Cleary speaks out on shale gas report after government says it will be kept confidential
Health officer speaks out on shale gas report, Chief medical officer of health speaks out on shale gas report after first suggesting it would be kept confidential by CBC News, October 6, 2012 New Brunswick’s chief medical officer of health … Continue reading →
Sinkhole explosive methane officially life threatening, residents not told
Sinkhole explosive methane officially life threatening, residents not told by Deborah Dupre, October 6, 2012, examiner Officials advised the Assumption Parish President on Thursday that Bayou Corne sinkhole area has high levels of methane in nearby water wells, posing risks … Continue reading →
Is fracking behind contamination in Wyoming groundwater? Questions about whether hydraulic ‘fracking’ is to blame remain as the US EPA prepares for peer review
Is fracking behind contamination in Wyoming groundwater? Questions about whether hydraulic ‘fracking’ is to blame remain as the US EPA prepares for peer review by Jeff Tollefson, October 4, 2012, Nature Natural gas extraction via hydraulic fracturing has been linked … Continue reading →
Hydraulic Fracturing and Water Resources A California Perspective
Hydraulic Fracturing and Water Resources A California Perspective by Frederick T. Stanin, Fall 2012, Groundwater Association of California HydroVisions Vol 21, No. 3 The keynote speaker, California Assemblyman Robert Wieckowski, is the author of AB 591, a bill aimed to … Continue reading →
The Entire Oil And Gas Industry Is Watching A Tiny Town In Wyoming
The Entire Oil And Gas Industry Is Watching A Tiny Town In Wyoming by Rob Wile, October 3, 2012, Business Insider Last week, the Environmental Protection Agency announced new USGS test results were consistent with its December tests that fracking … Continue reading →
CAUS holds second meeting at Cochrane Ranch House to address fracking
CAUS holds second meeting to address fracking by Derek Clouthier, October 3, 2012, Cochrane Eagle The local coalition Cochrane Area Under Siege (CAUS) held a second open house to address their concerns over hydraulic fracturing (fracking) in the Lochend area. … Continue reading →
New Study Supports Water Contamination Due to Fracking, U.S. Geological Survey Verifies EPA Findings in Pavillion, WY
New Study Supports Water Contamination Due to Fracking, U.S. Geological Survey Verifies EPA Findings in Pavillion, WY Press Release by Sierra Club and Earthworks, October 3, 2012 An independent analysis of new U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) water monitoring data verifies … Continue reading →
Wyoming Gov. Mead: Wait for analysis of Pavillion data
Wyoming Gov. Mead: Wait for analysis of Pavillion data by Adam Voge, Octobert 2, 2012, Star-Tribune The state may have to examine its hydraulic fracturing rules if testing in the Pavillion area shows the oil and gas production technique contaminated … Continue reading →
USGS Fracking Study Confirms Methane Contamination of Drinking Water in Pavillion, Wyoming
USGS Fracking Study Confirms Methane Contamination of Drinking Water in Pavillion, Wyoming by Carol Linnitt, October 1, 2012, Desmogblog For those concerned about the future of shale gas development in the U.S., water contamination present in a monitoring well in … Continue reading →
EPA retesting finds fracking-related groundwater contamination at Wyoming site
EPA retesting finds fracking-related groundwater contamination at Wyoming site by Evan Weese, October 1, 2012, Business First A new round of government sampling shows groundwater contamination from fracking at a Wyoming gas field, although some say the study is inconclusive, … Continue reading →
Dollars, politics force officials to ignore Alberta wetlands: study
Dollars, politics force officials to ignore Alberta wetlands: study by The Canadian Press, September 30, 2012 If Shari Clare noticed anything during five years as a private-sector environmental consultant in Alberta it was the “void between what regulations say and … Continue reading →
Technical Memorandum by Dr. Tom Myers on Assessment of Groundwater Sampling Results Completed by the U.S. Geological Survey
Technical Memorandum on Assessment of Groundwater Sampling Results Completed by the U.S. Geological Survey by Tom Myers, Ph.D., September 30, 2012 The organic chemistry at MW01 has not changed substantially since the EPA sampled the well; some constituents have increased … Continue reading →
Flaring of gas waste on rise, Low prices blamed as Alberta companies flare or vent more gas
Flaring of gas waste on rise, Low prices blamed as Alberta companies flare or vent more gas by Dan Healing, September 28, 2012, Calgary Herald Low natural gas prices and a boom in oil drilling in 2011 led to an … Continue reading →
Busted, Part Deux! Fracking Chemicals Found in Wyoming Water Supply
Busted, Part Deux! Fracking Chemicals Found in Wyoming Water Supply by Tina Casey, September 28, 2012, cleantechnica With the release of a new study on water contamination in Pavillion, Wyoming the U.S. Geological Survey has just put its two cents … Continue reading →
Testing by USGS Demonstrates Contaminants Are Still Present in EPA Deep Monitoring Well Water Near Pavillion, Wyoming
Testing by USGS Demonstrates Contaminants Are Still Present in EPA Deep Monitoring Well Water Near Pavillion, Wyoming Press Release by Subra Company, Pavillion Area Concerned Citizens and Powder River Basin Resource Council, September 28, 2012 In April and May 2012, … Continue reading →
Quebec, shale gas and Pandora’s Box
Quebec, shale gas and Pandora’s Box by David Campbell, September 28, 2012, Special to The Globe and Mail British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan are all pushing ahead with shale gas development using hydraulic fracturing, or fracking. Newfoundland and Labrador, the … Continue reading →
Conflicting reports fuel fracking debate tied to Wyoming town
Conflicting reports fuel fracking debate tied to Wyoming town by Laura Zuckerman, September 28, 2012, WKZO News SALMON, Idaho (Reuters) – Government testing of a drinking water aquifer near a tiny Wyoming town has shown concentrations of gases like ethane … Continue reading →
Answers wanted
Answers wanted by Sharon McLeay, September 28, 2012, Strathmore Times Farmers have a connection with their land. The soil texture in their hand, the feel of the ground under their feet, the sight of the new shoots rising and the … Continue reading →
USGS Aquifer Tests Near Pavillion, Wyoming Reveal Petroleum-Based Pollutants In Samples
USGS Aquifer Tests Near Pavillion, Wyoming Reveal Petroleum-Based Pollutants In Samples by Laura Zuckerman, Reuters, September 28, 2012, Huffingtonpost Government testing of a drinking water aquifer near a tiny Wyoming town has shown concentrations of gases like ethane and propane … Continue reading →
A matter of justice, without delay
A matter of justice, without delay by Jeffrey Simpson, September 28, 2012, The Globe and Mail To wit, these observations from Mr. Cowper: “The system fails to meet the public’s reasonable expectations of timeliness.” … “Over a decade ago, Chief … Continue reading →
Harper to recuse himself from matters dealing with Talisman Energy
Harper to recuse himself from matters dealing with Talisman Energy by Glen McGregor, September 28, 2012, Ottawa Citizen OTTAWA — A family connection could force Prime Minister Stephen Harper to step aside from politically-charged decisions involving a looming foreign takeover … Continue reading →
Alberta government set to start water consultations
Province set to start water consultations by Karen Kleiss, September 27, 2012, Edmonton Journal Public debate over fracking, water markets and dying Alberta lakes will heat up in coming months as the provincial government prepares to embark on a provincewide … Continue reading →
New data, but not much new in Wyo. fracking study
New data, but not much new in Wyo. fracking study by Mead Gruver, Associated Press, September 27, 2012, Seattlepi The Pavillion field has shallow gas and geology much different from other gas fields. Fracking occurred unusually close to home water … Continue reading →
US report leaves debate open on contested Wyoming fracking study
US report leaves debate open on contested Wyoming fracking study by Ayesha Rascoe, September 27, 2012, Reuters * USGS report offers no interpretation of data * Results generally consistent with previous findings – EPA * Wells improperly constructed – Encana … Continue reading →
EPA, driller differ on new Pavillion water test results
EPA, driller differ on new Pavillion water test results by Mike Soraghan, September 27, 2012, E&E News U.S. EPA says a second round of test results released yesterday by the U.S. Geological Survey supports its preliminary finding that hydraulic fracturing contaminated … Continue reading →
Diesel in Water Near Fracking Confirms EPA Tests Wyoming Disputes
Diesel in Water Near Fracking Confirms EPA Tests Wyoming Disputes by Mark Drajem, September 27, 2012, Bloomberg A retest of water in Pavillion, Wyoming, found evidence of many of the same gases and compounds the Environmental Protection Agency used to … Continue reading →
Quebec government hints at long-term fracking ban
Quebec government hints at long-term fracking ban, The new Parti Quebecois government hasn’t wasted any time hinting about a long-term ban on the shale gas industry by The Canadian Press, September 27, 2012 Quebec’s new natural-resources minister, Martine Ouellet, says … Continue reading →