[Sust-mar] Fracking: Let the NS Review know what your organization thinks

[Barbara Harris]

Dear friends, 

As you likely know, there are strong indications that unconventional gas development, including hydraulic fracturing, can have widespread impacts. 

Among these are potential negative effects and risks to
— groundwater quality and quantity
— rivers, lakes and streams
— oceans
— wildlife habitat
— fisheries
— soil, agriculture and local food production
— air quality
— climate
and other areas, including human health, property values, sustainable rural economic development and quality of life. 

The provincial review of fracking is underway right now. We are writing to ask you, as an organization concerned with one or more of these issues, if your organization would make a submission to the current Nova Scotia review of hydraulic fracturing. The deadline for submissions is March 31, 2014. The review is independent of government and is chaired by Dr. David Wheeler of Cape Breton University. 

These are some of the points you might be address. 
— Looking at existing evidence, emerging evidence, and gaps in evidence, what do you see as the potential risks and impacts on the issues with which your groups is concerned?
— How might fracking and shale gas development impact the goals and objectives of your organization?
— How does fracking and shale gas development fit into your vision for Nova Scotia?
—  What conclusion would you like the review, and the government to make?
— Should the present moratorium be extended, and if so, why?

Your submission can be sent by email to hfreview at cbu.ca. You may want to consider sending a copy to the appropriate minister or to your MLA (find your MLA here http://nslegislature.ca/index.php/people/members/) 

Nova Scotia presently has a moratorium on fracking. The Liberal Party made a commitment during the last election that “Unless we can definitively determine that fracking will not harm our resources, our environment, or the general public in any way, the extraction procedure should be prohibited.” 

NOFRAC wants to see the Provincial Government uphold this election commitment. We believe that if the present review truly evaluates the full risks and benefits, the review cannot fairly conclude that fracking will not harm our resources, our environment, or the general public in any way. 

NOFRAC believes that the only possible way to prevent harm to our resources, our environment and the general public is to extend the moratorium for at least 10 years or to ban fracking permanently.

Please let the review know what you think.

Remember, the deadline for submissions is March 31, 2014.