British Columbia has recently become the new popular spot for some of the largest fracking sites within North America. While the exhausting debate continues to unfold all over the U.S., the unpopular and seemingly unsafe drilling methods continue to be used in Canada.

The non-profit independent media institute AlterNet found that early last year, the largest fracking site in North America was opened by Apache in British Columbia. The site alone used 259 million gallons of water and 50,000 tons of sand to frack 16 gas wells side by side, and the company boasted that it was ”nearly four times larger than any project of its nature in North America.” While they have now opened larger sites, it still remains one of the largest of its kind.

The effects of hydraulic fracturing are not completely understood, however communities across Canada have already complained about water contamination. Mirroring their neighbors to the south, many communities across the U.S.A. have experienced that selected water contamination is the largest concern related to fracking.

In a recent survey by Canadians.org, 62% of Canadians said they support “a moratorium on all fracking for natural gas until all the federal environmental reviews are complete.” Without the environmental reviews being complete, and the companies right to not disclose the chemicals used in the process, it is clear that the Canadians are uneasy with the current uncertainty.

The Council of Canadians states that the Harper government has begun two separate reviews on the process. The first review was requested by Environment minister Peter Kent, asking the Council of Canadian Academies for a scientific examination of the potential environmental impacts of the development of Canada’s shale gas resources. Meanwhile the second review, also ordered by Kent, was requesting department officials to examine any potential environmental consequences of shale gas development.

These reviews could be significant for either the further development of fracking, or the eventual shutting down of these potentially dangerous sites. However, according to The Council of Canadian Academies spokeswoman Cate Meechan, the company is waiting for a formal written request by Kent and then an expert inspection can take up to 18 months, leaving the completion of such a review until April 2013.

Taking frustration levels to a new high, Kent has also claimed that he could stop fracking in New Brunswick, and possibly across the rest of the country, however it does not appear he will intervene anytime soon.

“[While] the exploitation of natural resources is not actually regulated by Ottawa, the federal government could step in and restrict the practice if the review by Council of Canadian Academies finds certain environmental ‘triggers’, such as the chemicals involved posing a threat to waterways with fish,” Kent explained.

“If there is a need for a certain sort of action, we certainly under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act have that authority and wouldn’t hesitate.” He continued,”…If we were to find that there was significant broad environmental risk, then we would have to consider ways of acting to limit or control it.”

So while it seems hydraulic fracturing could be stopped, Canadians are left to wait for the completion of the environmental reviews, while fracking companies continue to drill for natural gas.

Image Courtesy  of   http://www.flickr.com/photos/progressohio/

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Gasland documentary director, Josh Fox, was arrested on Wednesday, February 1, for what he claims is practicing his First Amendment right. According to usnews.com, the Wayne County filmmaker was arrested in the U.S. Capitol Building after attempting to film a congressional hearing linked with hydraulic fracturing, also known as fracking.

Fox says that after he filed for permission to film the hearing, he never received a response, which prompted him to attempt to film anyway. Capitol Police reported his arrest under unlawful entry, while Fox stated that he was only practicing journalism, according to media reports.

“I was not expecting to be arrested for practicing journalism. Today’s hearing in the House Energy and Environment subcommittee was called to examine EPA’s findings that hydraulic fracturing fluids had contaminated groundwater in the town of Pavillion, Wyoming.

I have a long history with the town of Pavillion and its residents who have maintained since 2008 that fracking has contaminated their water supply.” Said Fox regarding the arrest and congressional hearing, “I was arrested today for exercising my First Amendment rights to freedom of the press on Capitol Hill.”

During an interview, MSNBC host, Ed Schultz, discovered that the filming was being done in order to be featured in a follow-up documentary called Gasland II, also directed by Fox, which is said to be close to completion.  Also during the interview, Fox said that the hearing was going to be led by a Republican subcommittee and that he believed they were going to be attacking the EPA.

Fox was originally inspired to create Gasland after receiving a request to lease his land out for drilling. His website, www.gaslandthemovie.com, claims that after receiving the request, he then traveled up the coast, visiting various different fracking sites and the communities within the surrounding areas. He documented the fracking process and the possible effects the process takes on communities’ drinking water.

Fracking, as the website defines, is the act of drilling for natural gas extraction, utilizing  millions of gallons of water, sand, and proprietary chemicals blasted into deep wells. This process causes the rock and shale to fracture, thus emitting the gases within. For every frack that is completed, anywhere from 80-300 chemicals can be used.

However, due to the Haliburton Loophole, the companies involved in the drilling do not have to disclose the chemicals that are used. The website also claims that there have been over 1,000 reports by courts and governments of contaminated well water within communities surrounding fracking sites.

Fox has become a conflict ridden character within Wayne County, his home. Where some people see him as an activist, others claim he is merely using Gasland as his ride to fame and fortune. The trailer for the film here  may help you base your own opinions.

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