Filing Requirements for Onshore Drilling Operations Involving Hydraulic Fracturing by The National Energy Board, September 12, 2013
The NEB does not request details on frac chemicals to be injected or their toxicity, and does note require disclosure of drilling, perforating, acidizing, cementing or servicing chemicals. What the NEB asks on chemicals is copied below:
Describe the design basis for the selection of the fracturing fluids and chemical additives for the proposed hydraulic fracturing program.
3.10 #19
Describe the procedures for the selection, evaluation, and use of chemical substances, including process chemicals and drilling fluid ingredients.
#20
Indicate if the applicant is willing to publically disclose the chemicals used in the hydraulic fracture fluids.
4.5.2 #4
Describe the design basis for the selection of the fracturing fluids and chemical additives for the proposed hydraulic fracturing program.
4.5.4
The application describes the formation flow testing program based on industry best practices with enough detail to demonstrate that: …
all produced fluids including flowback fluids and formation fluids will be adequately measured and recorded, sampled and analyzed;
Frequently Asked Questions: Filing Requirements for Onshore Drilling Operations Involving Hydraulic Fracturing by The National Energy Board, September 12, 2013
6. Does the NEB expect applicants to disclose the chemicals used during the hydraulic fracturing process?
Yes. The NEB expects companies to disclose the chemicals they use. Companies must indicate their willingness [this translate as “voluntary” disclosure; indicating willingness does not mean companies will] to publicly disclose the chemical composition of hydraulic fracture fluids as a part of any application for an OA involving hydraulic fracturing.
National Energy Board Releases Filing Requirements for Onshore Drilling Operations Involving Hydraulic Fracturing Press Release by the National Energy Board, September 12, 2013
The National Energy Board (NEB or the Board) today released its Filing Requirements for Onshore Drilling Operations Involving Hydraulic Fracturing. These Filing Requirements address the unique aspects of hydraulic fracturing within the NEB’s mandate under the Canada Oil and Gas Operations Act (COGOA) to promote safety, environmental protection, and the conservation of oil and gas resources for onshore drilling and production in the North. Regulated companies are required to begin following these Filing Requirements immediately when applying for any operations authorization drilling involving hydraulic fracturing.
The Board has undertaken extensive engagement in the North on its regulation of hydraulic fracturing. This included meeting with communities, land claim organizations, elders, youth, legislators, federal and territorial government departments and regulated companies. The Filing Requirements seek to address specific concerns that were heard as a part of this engagement.
“The Board has heard the concerns of Canadians and is committed to continually improving the safety of hydraulic fracturing in Canada,” said Gaétan Caron, the NEB’s Chair and CEO. “One of the ways the Board does this is by clearly communicating what it requires of regulated companies for hydraulic fracturing and holding those companies accountable.” [Why only for Nunavut and the Northwest Territories? What about the rest of the frac’d country?]
Canadian National Energy Board lays out fracking guidelines but only for the Northwest Territories and Nunavut by UPI, September 13, 2013, Stockhouse
CALGARY — Canadian regulators published a 31-page document outlining onshore drilling requirements for operations involving hydraulic fracturing in western territories. The Canadian National Energy Board said updated filing requirements address “unique aspects” of hydraulic fracturing. New drilling technologies involving hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, have led to increased oil and natural gas production in North America. Critics of the practice say it has a potential to degrade the environment. The NEB published more than 30 pages of information outlining what energy companies need to do in order to meet the requirements. It said Thursday the filing requirements apply to fracking in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. “The board has heard the concerns of Canadians and is committed to continually improving the safety of hydraulic fracturing in Canada,” Gaetan Caron, the NEB’s chairman, said in a statement. “One of the ways the Board does this is by clearly communicating what it requires of regulated companies for hydraulic fracturing and holding those companies accountable.” The requirements include spill prevention plans as well as information on the chemical substances [Not really, if you read the actual filing requirements, see quote in blue above] used in the process.
Fluids used in fracking contain trace amounts of toxic chemicals that are viewed as a threat to drinking water. [Emphasis added]
Newfoundland premier says new rules for fracking aren’t needed by The Canadian Press, September 13, 2013, The Times Colonist
ST. JOHN’S, N.L. – Premier Kathy Dunderdale says the Newfoundland and Labrador government has no plans to introduce specific rules to regulate hydraulic fracturing. Dunderdale says the province already has a strict environmental assessment process that allows for scientific study and public input. The Conservative premier was responding to calls for legislation to specifically deal with fracking prior to the approval of potential projects. The premier says there’s no guarantee that fracking will actually take place in the province. [Emphasis added]