CBM in the Elk Valley: What’s the problem?

Coalbed methane: naming the issues

Relatively untested in B.C.

Mist Mountain is only the second site in the province set aside for such intense coalbed methane production. The project area encompasses 2/3 more land area than all the current mines in the Elk Valley combined.

Coalbed methane extraction brings with it a number of unknowns: cumulative impacts, effects on wildlife and water, and safety of well sites.

Toxic water disposal

Toxic water disposal is a major problem with coalbed methane production.

Coalbed methane (also called ‘coalbed gas’) is found in coal seams. For it to be extracted, the water around it must be pumped out. This water can be hazardous to freshwater bodies if disposed of above ground and hazardous to groundwater if re-injected underground.

In the case of the Mist Mountain project, there is no acceptable place to dispose of this water. They may attempt to re-inject the water underground—a dubious practice in the variable geology of the southern Rockies—or the multinational might choose to haul it away in trucks for disposal in dumps sites in other ecosystems. Either way, toxic water puts a huge question mark over the entire Mist Mountain project.

Industrializing 320 square kilometres

Coalbed methane development degrades the landscape and presents a web of barriers to wildlife, fragmenting their habitat and reducing their populations. It does not have a small footprint, as some may claim. Rather, it inserts well pads, roads and plants into as many drainages as it can to ensure complete coverage.

The Mist Mountain project threatens to develop across 320 square kilometres in the Elk Valley.

Hundreds of kilometres of old logging roads will require considerable upgrades to accommodate heavy truck traffic, unavoidably sending silt and debris into creeks. Some of these roads will be upgraded for use with financial assistance of the province’s taxpayers, thanks to B.C.’s “Oil and Gas Development Strategy for the Heartlands.

Hundreds (possibly thousands) of well pads will be installed in a grid over the entire area, destoying refuge for wildlife and obliterating long-used connectivity corridors.

This development threatens the ability to create an effective Wildlife Management Area in the southern B.C. Rockies. The enormous footprint of the Mist Mountain project could degrade wildlife connectivity permanently.

See the scope of Mist Mountain:

Click on “conceptual plan, small” to download BP’s map

Public voice ignored

Since Mist Mountain was proposed in 2007, several organizations have come out against coalbed methane development in the province, including:

The City of Fernie, who voted to oppose BP's Mist Mountain Project;
The Union of British Columbia Municipalities, representing more than 160 municipalities across the province, who voted to oppose a similar project in northern B.C.;
The BC First Nations Summit, comprised of the majority of First Nations and Tribal Councils in B.C. has called for a 10-year moratorium on coalbed methane drilling in the province;
Several of B.C.’s major environmental NGOs including: Wildsight, Forest Ethics, Sierra Club BC, Pembina Institute, West Coast Environmental Law, Dogwood Initiative.
Citizens Concerned About Coalbed Methane groups across the province.

Still, the Province continues with its coalbed methane plans, claiming that First Nation and public consultation has been an important part of the process.

BP and tenure: naming the issues

Worst safety record

The explosion and subsequent oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico in early 2010 may be the most acute human-caused ecological disaster in history. While BP struggles to make reparations for this single example of incompetence, the corporation has a well-documented history of repeated incompetence.

For example, United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration records show BP has the worst safety record of all other oil and gas producers—by a huge margin.

“Two refineries owned by oil giant BP account for 97 percent of all flagrant violations found in the refining industry by government safety inspectors over the past three years, a Center for Public Integrity analysis shows. Most of BP’s citations were classified as ‘egregious willful’ by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and reflect alleged violations of a rule designed to prevent catastrophic events at refineries.”

~ The Center for Public Integrity

Cumulative impacts ignored

As test well drilling begins in the Elk Valley, cumulative impacts of its activities will remain unexamined. That’s because BP has tenure to 320 square kilometres, but may apply to drill wells individually.

This is like not being able to see the forest for the trees—except in this case, it’s not being able to see the project for the wells.

One well at a time is assessed for its impacts; the cumulative impacts of one hundred wells is not assessed.

That’s because “government policy around cumulative impacts is in the earliest stages of discussion—outside the scope of the OGAA implementation.” (OIL AND GAS ACTIVITIES ACT AND REGULATIONS: FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS)

What’s the solution?

3-point plan for coalbed methane in B.C.

Because coalbed methane is new in B.C., watchdog groups like Wildsight recommend its development — including exploration — stops until three things happen:

Local communities have a clear say in deciding where and how CBM projects proceed;
All projects undergo mandatory BC environmental assessments that address cumulative impacts; and
Sufficient funds are dedicated to independent baseline research, so that companies like BP aren’t responsible for policing themselves.

LINKS


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	CBM in the Elk Valley: What’s the problem? Coalbed methane: naming the issues Relatively untested in B.C. Mist Mountain is only the second site in the province set aside for such intense coalbed methane production. The project area encompasses 2/3 more land area than all the current mines in the Elk Valley combined. Coalbed methane extraction brings with it a number of unknowns: cumulative impacts, effects on wildlife and water, and safety of well sites. Toxic water disposal Toxic water disposal is a major problem with coalbed methane production. Coalbed methane (also called ‘coalbed gas’) is found in coal seams. For it to be extracted, the water around it must be pumped out. This water can be hazardous to freshwater bodies if disposed of above ground and hazardous to groundwater if re-injected underground. In the case of the Mist Mountain project, there is no acceptable place to dispose of this water. They may attempt to re-inject the water underground—a dubious practice in the variable geology of the southern Rockies—or the multinational might choose to haul it away in trucks for disposal in dumps sites in other ecosystems. Either way, toxic water puts a huge question mark over the entire Mist Mountain project. Industrializing 320 square kilometres Coalbed methane development degrades the landscape and presents a web of barriers to wildlife, fragmenting their habitat and reducing their populations. It does not have a small footprint, as some may claim. Rather, it inserts well pads, roads and plants into as many drainages as it can to ensure complete coverage. The Mist Mountain project threatens to develop across 320 square kilometres in the Elk Valley. Hundreds of kilometres of old logging roads will require considerable upgrades to accommodate heavy truck traffic, unavoidably sending silt and debris into creeks. Some of these roads will be upgraded for use with financial assistance of the province’s taxpayers, thanks to B.C.’s “Oil and Gas Development Strategy for the Heartlands. Hundreds (possibly thousands) of well pads will be installed in a grid over the entire area, destoying refuge for wildlife and obliterating long-used connectivity corridors. This development threatens the ability to create an effective Wildlife Management Area in the southern B.C. Rockies. The enormous footprint of the Mist Mountain project could degrade wildlife connectivity permanently. See the scope of Mist Mountain: Click on “conceptual plan, small” to download BP’s map Public voice ignored Since Mist Mountain was proposed in 2007, several organizations have come out against coalbed methane development in the province, including: The City of Fernie, who voted to oppose BP's Mist Mountain Project; The Union of British Columbia Municipalities, representing more than 160 municipalities across the province, who voted to oppose a similar project in northern B.C.; The BC First Nations Summit, comprised of the majority of First Nations and Tribal Councils in B.C. has called for a 10-year moratorium on coalbed methane drilling in the province; Several of B.C.’s major environmental NGOs including: Wildsight, Forest Ethics, Sierra Club BC, Pembina Institute, West Coast Environmental Law, Dogwood Initiative. Citizens Concerned About Coalbed Methane groups across the province. Still, the Province continues with its coalbed methane plans, claiming that First Nation and public consultation has been an important part of the process. BP and tenure: naming the issues Worst safety record The explosion and subsequent oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico in early 2010 may be the most acute human-caused ecological disaster in history. While BP struggles to make reparations for this single example of incompetence, the corporation has a well-documented history of repeated incompetence. For example, United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration records show BP has the worst safety record of all other oil and gas producers—by a huge margin. “Two refineries owned by oil giant BP account for 97 percent of all flagrant violations found in the refining industry by government safety inspectors over the past three years, a Center for Public Integrity analysis shows. Most of BP’s citations were classified as ‘egregious willful’ by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and reflect alleged violations of a rule designed to prevent catastrophic events at refineries.” ~ The Center for Public Integrity Cumulative impacts ignored As test well drilling begins in the Elk Valley, cumulative impacts of its activities will remain unexamined. That’s because BP has tenure to 320 square kilometres, but may apply to drill wells individually. This is like not being able to see the forest for the trees—except in this case, it’s not being able to see the project for the wells. One well at a time is assessed for its impacts; the cumulative impacts of one hundred wells is not assessed. That’s because “government policy around cumulative impacts is in the earliest stages of discussion—outside the scope of the OGAA implementation.” (OIL AND GAS ACTIVITIES ACT AND REGULATIONS: FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS) What’s the solution? 3-point plan for coalbed methane in B.C. Because coalbed methane is new in B.C., watchdog groups like Wildsight recommend its development — including exploration — stops until three things happen: Local communities have a clear say in deciding where and how CBM projects proceed; All projects undergo mandatory BC environmental assessments that address cumulative impacts; and Sufficient funds are dedicated to independent baseline research, so that companies like BP aren’t responsible for policing themselves. LINKS Citizens Concerned About Coalbed Methane Coalbed Methane Development in the Elk Valley: STUDY Wildsight Elk Valley Branch Citizens Guide to Coalbed Methane in B.C.

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CBM in the Elk Valley: What’s the problem?