B.C. offshore drilling moratorium stays: Prentice
By Larry Pynn, Vancouver Sun May 21, 2010
Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/news/offshore+drilling+moratorium+stays+Prentice/3058241/story.html#ixzz0ofNpoJSdVANCOUVER — The moratorium on offshore oil development in B.C. won't be lifted any time soon, especially in the wake of the environmental disaster unfolding in the Gulf of Mexico, federal Environment Minister Jim Prentice said Friday.
"It's in place and there's no changing of rules at this point.
Obviously what's happening in the Gulf of Mexico has reinforced the desire for all of us to be careful," he said. "Nobody wants that to happen in Canada."
Prentice said he knows British Columbians are concerned about the potential environmental impact of oil drilling and oil-tanker traffic and doesn't "see the situation changing" in the near future.
"We need to be careful with offshore oil drilling," he said in an interview. "We're all appalled by what we're seeing in the Gulf of Mexico. The true environmental cost is only now becoming apparent (now) that this stuff is starting to wash ashore."
He said it's important to "learn from the lessons of the Gulf of Mexico" as Canada moves forward on the issue.
He argued Canada has a better regulatory system that the U.S. on offshore oil drilling, calling the National Energy Board among the "most respected regulatory bodies in the world in the energy field."
He noted that one of America's first responses to the Gulf of Mexico oil leak has been to create an independent national regulatory agency not beholden to industry.
The B.C. Liberal government has continued to push the issue of offshore oil drilling.
The Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources website states: "It is estimated that approximately 41.8 trillion cubic feet of natural gas and about 9.8 billion barrels of oil exist off B.C.'s coast.
"B.C.'s West coast has considerable potential, and is close to markets. However, since 1972, the federal and provincial moratoriums have prohibited offshore oil and gas development activities from taking place.
"B.C. is the only region in Canada with significant offshore oil and gas potential that is barred from developing this resource."
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