Doaktown council unanimously adopted a motion at a recent council meeting to ban any shale gas exploration or extraction near the central New Brunswick village's water sources.
The village’s decision to prohibit shale gas exploration or extraction near its water sources comes as SWN Resources has informed mayors in Kent County that the company is preparing to start seismic testing in the area.
Doaktown is asking the provincial government to complete a hydro-geological survey of its aquifers.
“Following determination of the parameters of the aquifers: the village asks the province to ban any and all exploration for natural gas, or extraction within or near those well field areas,” according to a resolution adopted at a Feb. 9 council meeting.
The council is also asking for the provincial government to provide benchmark tests of the village’s water that could be used to determine any future damage to its water supply.
“The Village of Doaktown has assumed a large and onerous tax burden to provide this essential water service and cannot responsibly permit the province to threaten its purity through its issuing leases to gas drilling companies. Since the province has made the decision on this issue, it must be accountable to any and all persons suffering damages,” the resolution said.
Companies must have permission from local councils to conduct testing within their boundaries.
The Department of Natural Resources forwarded a complaint to the RCMP against Windsor Energy for conducting geophysical exploration within the boundaries of the town of Sussex without the council’s approval. The RCMP ruled it could not move forward with any charges, however.
Seismic testing allows a company to determine if there are any gas deposits beneath the surface.
Premier David Alward has said repeatedly that companies are just testing to see if there are sufficient shale gas reserves to warrant moving forward with extraction.
Alward used his annual State of the Province speech last month to outline his views that the shale gas industry could turn into an economic benefit for a province that is facing a massive debt and high unemployment.
Alward has also promised, if a shale gas industry were to be set up in New Brunswick, that he would enforce the continent’s toughest regulations.
The Progressive Conservative government is preparing to introduce an environmental protection plan later this spring.
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