New Brunswick Announces Commission To Study Hydraulic Fracturing

The Canadian province of New Brunswick has appointed a three person Commission to study if the moratorium on hydraulic fracturing should be lifted. In December 2014 the provincial government introduced amendments to the Oil and Gas Act that placed a moratorium on all types of hydraulic fracturing in New Brunswick following wide-spread public protests. The moratorium will not be lifted unless:

• a social license is in place;
• there is clear and credible information about the impacts of hydraulic fracturing on public health, the environment and water, allowing the government to develop a country-leading regulatory regime with sufficient enforcement capabilities;
• a plan is in place that mitigates the impacts on public infrastructure and that addresses issues such as waste water disposal;