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CBM activity threatens B.C. salmon rivers
A new environmental report has raised concerns about the impact on three major salmon rivers in northwestern British Columbia of plans to open the door to large-scale coalbed methane production in the province.
The Alberta-based Pembina Institute describes as an “irresponsible experiment” provincial government approvals for Shell Canada to drill on more than 1 million acres of leases about 90 miles northwest of Smithers, where two coalfields are estimated to hold 8 trillion cubic feet of methane.
Pembina said commercial coalbed methane development has never occurred in a salmon watershed. Shell Canada’s tenure covers the headwaters of the Stikine, Skeena and Nass rivers.
The Pembina report, prepared by GW Solutions, a B.C. consulting firm, said that “given the sensitivity of salmon to disturbance in their critical habitats, it is fully possible that impacts cannot be mitigated within acceptable limits.”
Shell drilled three exploratory wells in 2004 before the program was stalled by aboriginal blockades and a flood that washed out an access road.
It hopes to resume work this fall, while promising to safeguard the environment and work with aboriginal communities to protect traditional activities, but that has not appeased one community.
Salmon-bearing waters said to be at risk The Pembina report estimated that if 1,000 wells were drilled that would require clearance of an area the size of 2,700 football fields.
It argued there would be no way to prevent erosion and the flow of sediment into salmon-bearing waters, while water extraction — amounting to sufficient water to fill 200,000 Olympic-size swimming pools over 20 years — could reduce groundwater flows to streams and lakes.
The report also said the disposal of groundwater produced by coalbed methane wells is “often associated with significant environmental impacts because it can be highly saline. Arsenic, ammonia, boron, manganese, radium fluoride and high sodium absorption ratios have also been observed in CBM water.”
Pembina said there are “key information gaps” relating to geology, ecology and hydrology of the area and more research is needed to determine the environmental impact.
Greg Brown, a Pembina policy analyst, said B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell urgently needs to “implement a regulatory framework that addresses scientific and citizen concerns about CBM extraction.”
“As pressure increases for new oil and gas development across British Columbia, the government needs to acknowledge that in many places, CBM extraction could cause unacceptable environmental damage and should not be allowed.”
—Gary Park
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