Energy Minister Craig Leonard says the rules are strong, but reasonable. (CBC) The Alward government has unveiled the long-awaited rules to oversee the oil and gas industry in New Brunswick.
The new provincial regulations set out strict rules on protecting the environment, covering everything from protecting surface and groundwater during seismic testing, to preventing potential contaminants from escaping the well bore, to managing waste, and addressing air emissions.
Energy Minister Craig Leonard says New Brunswick's rules are the strictest, requiring setbacks up to three times more than elsewhere.
They're "balanced," he said, noting industry was consulted. "They're strong, but they're also reasonable."
The 106-page document, entitled Responsible Environmental Management of Oil and Natural Gas Activities in New Brunswick, also requires the industry to disclose which chemicals are used in the controversial hydraulic-fracturing process.
During hydro-fracking, companies inject a mixture of water, sand and chemicals into the ground, creating cracks in shale rock formations, enabling them to extract natural gas from areas that would otherwise go untapped.
Opponents of the process say it could have a negative effect on local water supplies and many of them have held protests across the province.
Water top priority
Environment Minister Bruce Fitch says water protection is the top priority for the provincial government. The rules "will protect" water, he said.
Under the new rules, if groundwater comes to the surface, drilling must be discontinued, the hole plugged and government notified.
The regulations apply to oil and gas activities on both private and provincially-owned land from exploration through to abandonment.
They also cover emergency planning.
The rules incorporate public input received during a four month review period of 116 proposed changes to the regulatory framework announced in May.
They will be used to manage oil and gas activity for about the next two years, but the related technology is evolving quickly, the report says.
"This will allow the province, industry, and citizens to obtain additional information about the size of the oil and gas resources in New Brunswick and the feasibility of its extraction."
Natural Resources Minister Bruce Northrup had said at the time he hoped to see the rules in place for 2013.
The new rules build upon existing regulations and "for the most part" will be implemented as conditions to approvals and certificates of determination issued under the Oil and Natural Gas Act, Clean Environment Act, the Clean Air Act, and the Clean Water Act, the released document states.
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