NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release 2008EMPR0070-001843 Dec. 5, 2008	Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources
LEADERSHIP SHOWN IN UNCONVENTIONAL GAS DEVELOPMENT

VICTORIA – Shell Canada will take a break in exploration activity in the Klappan and have more discussions with First Nations and the community, Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources Minister Richard Neufeld announced today.

 

“Government is facilitating this by specifying no activity for two years,” said Neufeld. “I commend both Shell Canada for showing leadership in making this decision and the Tahltan who have expressed their concerns and their interest in having more information.”

 

 As the Province moves forward and takes another step towards realizing the benefits of the BC Energy Plan, it is awarding tenure to BP Canada for their Mist Mountain Project in the East Kootenay.

 

The awarding of this tenure follows a comprehensive referral process that included local First Nations, communities and government agencies requesting they provide comments on the tenure and process. Three of the four local governments either supported approval of the tenure, or were neutral, provided best practices in the BC Energy Plan are adopted and followed for the Mist Mountain Project.

 

“British Columbia has put in place some of the toughest regulations for unconventional gas development in North America, and BP Canada will be bound by those,” said Neufeld. “BP has been engaging communities and other stakeholders in the region to share information and their environmental processes and seek input on their proposed project.”

 

In recognition of the Flathead Valley’s environmentally sensitive status, the provincial government has not included any land area within the Flathead River Basin.   

 

“The BC Energy Plan states that government would not allow companies to surface discharge produced water from any CBG projects,” said Neufeld. “We’re keeping that commitment.”

 

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Media contact:	Jake Jacobs Public Affairs Officer Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources 250 952-0628
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