Reasons
to Keep the Moratorium
The moratorium is currently the only effective mechanism that
guarantees protection of BC's coastline and existing industries
like fishing and tourism. The following is a list of reasons
why many believe its continued protection is necessary.
1. BC is a high-risk area
B.C. is unique because the proposed oil and gas extraction
is close to the shoreline, rather than fully offshore. An
oil spill here would be devastating, as the wind and current
patterns would cause the contaminants to hit the coast and
areas of high economic and ecological importance.
2. Damage to the marine environment
The proponents of offshore drilling claim that technological
advancements have made testing and production safe. Scientists
and environmentalists however, are calling this claim to question.
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Before
production begins, seismic testing is used to locate deposits
of gas and oil beneath the ocean floor. This testing process
has been shown to disrupt the migratory paths and feeding
patterns of whales, damage fish with swim bladders, destroy
fish eggs and larvae, and cause fish to abandon an area.
These effects could have a huge negative impact on our
fishing and tourism industries.
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A
recent US government environmental report on offshore
oil and gas development in Alaska's Cook Inlet concluded
that proposed developments similar to those being discussed
in BC will result in 483 oil spills over several decades
and a 1-in-5 chance of a major oil spill.
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Under
the best conditions, only 15% of an oil spill can be recovered.
Moreover, winds above 20-25 knots make oil spill cleanup
completely ineffective. Based on the average wind speed
at the Queen Charlotte Basin, cleanup response for accidents
and spills in the area would be almost useless between
December and March.
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Oil
platforms pollute the surrounding waters every day. A
single platform can discharge over 90,000 metric tons
of toxic waste into the surrounding water over its lifetime.
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3.
Economic Risks
The economic benefits of offshore oil and gas would be very
modest for BC because this is a capital-intensive industry that
hires specialized contractors to do most of the work. That being
said, its benefits are offset by other factors. These
include:
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Grants,
tax exemptions, loan guarantees, and equity, which are
required to make this high risk/ capital intensive industry
viable.
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Damage
to the existing coastal industries such as tourism and
fishing.
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Hiring
from other jurisdictions where labour costs are low (e.g.
South Korea, UK) during the construction phase
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4.
Kyoto Protocol
Offshore
oil and gas drilling compromises Canada’s commitment
to the Kyoto Protocol. Expanding the oil and gas industry
perpetuates dependence on fossil fuels and is contradicts
the aims of the Kyoto Protocol (to which the federal government
committed Canada), to cut greenhouse gas emissions.
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The
amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere
from burning crude oil and natural gas drilling in BC’s
offshore would be equivalent to putting 13 million cars
on the road for 20 years (the life of the offshore project).
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Greenhouse
gas emissions from the production of oil and gas are growing
faster than any other source in the province.
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5.
Laws and regulations will not guarantee protection of BC's
coast
Current regulations are not stopping poor environmental performance.
A B.C. Oil and Gas Commission audit of the industry in northeast
BC found rampant environmental infractions. Of 160 sites assessed,
35 had major environmental violations and 16 had minor ones.
This suggests that it will have similar problems keeping offshore
projects in check as well.
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