Review Panel on the Shale Gas Industry. Investigation and public hearing report
Quebecois report by the BAPE (Office of public hearings on the environment) of 144 pages on the exploration and exploitation of shale gas and the potential environmental, health and social problems of its exploitation.
Introduction
Shale gas exploration and exploitation projects in Quebec were brought to light during the summer of 2010 following events where citizens of the south shore of Quebec found themselves facing challenges. companies that had started drilling without their consent or even informed them.
Following these outcry and growing media coverage of the issue, the Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks, Mr. Pierre Arcand, gave the Bureau d'Audiences Publiques sur l'Environnement (BAPE) the mandate, despite the absence of an impact study, to hold an information period and public consultations under section 31.3 of the Act respecting the quality of
the environment.
On September 7, 2010, the president of the BAPE therefore set up the BAPE commission responsible for examining this type of operation and appointed 3 commissioners to complete the panel which had for
mandate to study the file. This mandate ends on February 4, 2011. (extended until February 28, 2011).
This team consists of:
Pierre Fortin, president
Michel Germain, Commissioner
Jacques Locat Commissioner
Nicole Trudeau, Commissioner
From the conclusion
(…) Consequently, it appears to the Commission that an analysis of the relevance of this sector for the energy future of Quebec is imperative, that it is imperative to document and qualify the risks, define a modern legal and regulatory framework, adapted and which will rally the population and local and regional elected representatives, in the spirit and letter of sustainable development. These issues cannot be dealt with calmly if the industry is allowed to continue operating. THE COMMISSION IS THEREFORE OF THE OPINION THAT A MORATORIUM ON ALL ACTIVITIES RELATED TO SHALE GAS IN QUEBEC MUST BE DECREED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.