New Brunswick Not Ready for Fracking, Says Commission

摘要

Shale gas exploration companies had not blazed a path to New Brunswick’s door, even before the province imposed a moratorium on fracking in December 2014. But even those few that had shown a glimmer of interest should expect an extended cold shoulder from the province following the release of the report of the Commission on Hydraulic Fracturing. The report, all three volumes and one Appendix, describes how and why the province is ill-equipped to welcome the shale gas industry. Premier Brian Gallant struck the three-person commission shortly after imposing a moratorium on fracking and setting five conditions that would have to be met before it was lifted. They are: 1. A social license to operate; 2. Clear and credible information about health and environmental impacts of fracking; 3. A plan to mitigate impact on infrastructure; 4. A process to respect obligations to First Nations; and 5. A mechanism that maximizes benefits to New Brunswickers, including a new royalty structure.