Read this report from the Ottawa Citizen on the federal Ministry of Environment’s decision to have two seperate reviews conducted into the science and environmental impacts of natural gas hydraulic fracturing.
“The move comes as jurisdictions around the world, including Quebec
and New York state, have halted “fracking” operations or have launched
reviews on the use of the technique to tap shale gas reserves and other
fossil fuels. Environment Minister Peter Kent already has said the
government is monitoring shale gas extraction and has the power to
regulate its development, although it’s mostly an area of provincial and
territorial jurisdiction. He has now asked the Council of
Canadian Academies – a not-for-profit agency that provides science-based
studies – for an independent, expertpanel assessment ‘of the state of
scientific knowledge on potential environmental impacts from the
development of Canada’s shale gas resources.'” (Sept 22, 2011)