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Fracking isn't worth it

Fracking isn't worth it As winter approaches and politicians prepare for the legislature to resume, some of us stack firewood, some drive by the liquefied natural gas construction site and some notice the posters around town indicating the blast radius i

As winter approaches and politicians prepare for the legislature to resume, some of us stack firewood, some drive by the liquefied natural gas construction site and some notice the posters around town indicating the blast radius if there is a significant accident once the LNG facility is built.

Another task at hand is attending the legislative committee on fracking hearings.

Fracking has gotten a lot of attention internationally and nationally recently. Opponents list examples of major problems with it, proponents keep saying regulations will keep it safe. Opponents point to numerous problems in Alberta, northern B.C. and the U.S. and fracking bans in Europe and Nova Scotia. Proponents rely on hair-splitting legalities to avoid liability for groundwater problems.

Proponents have yet to show how regulations can keep secret chemicals pumped into the ground at the high pressure needed to shatter the rock - the reason to frack - can be regulated to keep the chemicals from getting into the groundwater. They also have yet to show how regulations prevent that secret chemical frack soup that comes back up the drill hole, and is disposed of by pumping it back into the ground, is prevented from contaminating ground water.

If fracking is allowed in the Yukon and it does contaminate the ground water, I suppose we could use bottled water for showers as well as drinking, washing clothes and washing dishes. But then, where would that bottled water come from? Probably an area where fracking is not allowed.

The legislative committee on fracking is still holding hearings. Might be a good idea to sign up and let those politicians know what you think. Sign up at the Yukon government website. Follow the links: Legislative Assembly - Select Committee Regarding Risks & Benefits of Hydraulic Fracturing - Public Hearings - Pre-registration. Or you could just figure out how many bottles of water it takes to have a shower.

Skeeter Wright

Whitehorse