The government of Nova Scotia plans to introduce legislation this fall that would prohibit high-volume hydraulic fracturing.
Energy Minister Andrew Younger announced the intention to draft legislation after an independent panel found that only 40% of Nova Scotians favor unconventional oil and gas development, even when accompanied by strict regulation.
"Nova Scotians have overwhelmingly expressed concern about allowing high volume hydraulic fracturing to be a part of onshore shale development in this province at this time," Younger said.
The legislation would build on a 2-year fracing moratorium enacted by the Canadian province in 2012.
The Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) expressed disappointment with the announcement. Dave Collyer, president and chief executive officer of the trade group, said the decision "appears to be based on considerations than the technical knowledge and experience of industry regulators and experts in Canadian jurisdictions where hydraulic fracturing has been used safely for many decades to develop natural gas."
The report was prepared by an independent panel on hydraulic fracturing led by David Wheeler, president of Cape Breton University.
Researchers concluded that, "Given the known and potential environmental impacts associated with hydraulic fracturing across different time scales-as outlined by both citizens and the literature-a precautionary approach in Nova Scotia is both prudent and required by Nova Scotia legislation (i.e. the Environmental Goals and Sustainable Prosperity Act 2007 and the Green Economy Act 2012)."
The commercial viability of Nova Scotia's onshore shale gas plays remains unproven, Collyer said, and the decision could preclude the province from benefitting from "responsible development of the resource." CAPP said fracing has been used safely for more than 60 years in British Columbia and Alberta.
