Texas & BC, the Barnett shale and BC's Horn River and Montney shale plays.

This article is about pollution from the compression and processing facilities which handle the gas from the Barnett shale.

Hello. Little observed fact: all the gas in northeast BC also needs to be compressed and processed. Don't think it doesn't emit the same nasty stuff that is reported in this study from Texas.

Encana is building the huge Cabin Gas Plant in 60 km northeast of Fort Nelson. The first phase alone, twice the size of the largest gas processing facility in the province, is estimated to cost $400 - $500 million and will process 400 million cubic feet per day (BC's total production is about three times that, and we're already producing 600 mcf from shale). At full build-out the plant will handle 800 mcf daily.

But heck, the provincial government has no monitoring capability, and has no desire to obstruct or deter the big gas investment. Out of sight, out of mind. Animals of other species might suffer the toxic consequences.

And the greenhouse gas emissions? Well, they'll just be vented - all 2 million plus tonnes per year. If suitable nearby disposal areas are proven up, and IF suitable federal and provincial subsidies are made available, the company may be able to sequester and reinject the CO2 (and the H2S) from the plant. Otherwise? It becomes the biggest single source of greenhouse has emissions in the province.

So pay some attention to this report from Texas where a heck of a lot more people live near the Barnett shale plays. If this is what industry gets away with there, just think of what it can get away with 60 km northeast of Fort Nelson.

As to who is paying attention, the answer is virtually no-one - other than government and industry. The public comment period on the Environmental Assessment expired on August 21. Four, that's FOUR, comments were received. Ignace Burke made the point that he and his family live only 5 km from the plant site, but that "nobody mentions that to you people." Karen Campbell and Matt Horne of Pembina Institute submitted the only substantial comment, demanding in effect that all carbon emissions be sequestered and that the downstream carbon emissions from end-use of the gas also be attributed to the project. Yea. Nice try. Fat chance.

This is not an accusation, but it has been proved countless times that the government will not serve as a watchdog for citizens, so citizen watchdogs are essential to protection of our health, our communities, and our environment. What can we do where the citizen watchdogs are non-existent, or unable to take on the work?

Project site at the Environmental Assessment Office

See also:
Gas plant must curb emissions, watchdog says
Multibillion-dollar gas plant planned in B.C.
Huge gas project set for 2011

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Wikipedia says:

DISH is a town in Denton County, Texas, United States. The town had an estimated population of 181 as of July 1, 2008, according to the United States Census Bureau. Formerly called Clark, the town was officially renamed DISH (all capital letters) on November 16, 2005.

The municipality was previously named after its founder, Landis Clark, who incorporated it in June 2000 and served as its first mayor. Clark was beaten by one vote in the Spring 2005 election by Bill Merritt.

In exchange for renaming the town, all residents of the town have received free basic television service for ten years and a free DVR from DISH Network. There was no formal opposition to renaming Clark; twelve citizens attended the council meeting to support the measure.

Dish Network Corporation is a direct broadcast satellite service provider that ... serves approximately 13.58 million subscribers.