By Tim Van Hinte
Petitcodiac Riverkeeper
May 30, 2008
It was encouraging to hear earlier this week that the provincial government is taking steps in the right direction on tidal power.
Tidal power in the Bay of Fundy presents a unique opportunity for our province to move towards renewable sources of energy. However, potential impacts of such projects on the marine environment, aquatic life and commercial fishing resources can vary greatly depending on the size, location and design of tidal facilities. Therefore, we must be cautious and prudent in our approach.
Since tidal energy is new to New Brunswick, the province decided to initiate a process to study and evaluate potential impacts. The Department of Natural Resources developed an interim policy on tidal energy and asked the public for their comments. In addition, along with the Province of Nova Scotia and the Offshore Energy Environmental Research Association (OEER), the province collaborated on an initial environmental study to identify potential impacts, describe different types of technologies, and discuss possible locations before any tidal exploration or development takes place.
Earlier this year, the province organized numerous public consultation sessions in communities to get feedback on the environmental study and to gauge support for tidal power. A summary report on public feedback should be completed shortly by an independent consultant and will be used to make recommendations to the province on how to move forward.
Minister of Energy Jack Keir even stated recently on television that the province wants to develop tidal energy right, not fast.
My questions are simple:
Why is the province not taking a similar approach on uranium exploration and mining?
Why has the province not extensively researched the potential impacts of uranium?
If they have, why have the results not been made public?
Where is the comprehensive environmental study on potential impacts?
Where is the extensive public consultation?
Why have they not developed regulations or policy specifically addressing uranium?
To date, there has been no comprehensive assessment or evaluation of uranium exploration and mining in New Brunswick undertaken by the provincial government. In fact, it seems as though the province has designed the process on the back of a napkin.
The province has not exercised caution or prudence in their approach. So far, all that the Department of Natural Resources has released are a set of non-binding guidelines that will not be enforced.
In addition, they have scheduled two “information sessions” in June to reassure the public that everything will be fine.
Meanwhile, as we already know, scientific evidence and history from around the globe tells us that uranium mining represents an irreversible threat to natural ecosystems and human health.
In addition, overwhelming and credible evidence exists that human exposure to uranium and its by-products, mobilized by mining, then passed on to humans through air, water and land sources increases the risk of diseases, including various cancers, for generations.
The province’s puzzling attitude on the uranium file up until now could lead to the conclusion that something unspoken is at play here. Could it be that our government doesn’t want to ban uranium exploration and mining for fear of displeasing mining companies and developing an anti-mining reputation?
Tim Van Hinte, of Moncton, is your Petitcodiac Riverkeeper. He can be reached at timvanhinte@petitcodiac.org
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