Subject: [CBM] Coalbed Methane moratorium resolution passes at UBCM
Date: September 28, 2003 3:03 AM

Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM), Vancouver, 22-26 September 2003

B129, Comox-Strathcona Regional District

"THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Union of BC Municipalities request that
the provincial government issue no further drilling licences, tenures, or
other permits for coalbed methane exploration and development until local
communities, their local government and First Nations are consulted and
their concerns are fully considered and until adequate policies, regulations
and guidelines are enacted to ensure the safe development of coalbed methane
in the Province of British Columbia."

Tom Pater of the Comox-Strathcona Regional District spoke to the resolution,
and reports that:

"The resolution was debated and passed Friday morning by elected local
government officials from across BC who gathered in Vancouver at Canada
Place this past week, 22-26 September, for the 100th AGM of the UBCM.
Support was voiced from across the province, from the Peace River country to
Vancouver Island, in the call for more local consultation and better
environmental safeguards prior to the province permitting further CBM
exploration and development."

"The networking  was effective.  A delegate from Hudson's Hope told me
when it came up in conversation that she had been contacted by one of her
constituents and encouraged to support the RDCS resolution."

"One person said it was only because of the First Nations that any checks on
the methane gold rush in his area existed at all.  He is from the Hat Creek
area."[The provincial government is keen to get the drills to work in
Hat Creek, but has encountered a solid front of resistance from First Nations
and from ranchers, who are concerned about protecting their beautiful valley.]

"Many delegates came up to me afterwards to thank and congratulate."

"I had earlier moved to table the Peace River resolution until after
consideration of the stronger one, and the delegates approved that."

---The Resolutions---

Coalbed methane resolutions that were considered at the 2003 UBCM
Convention.  B128 was tabled in favour of B129, the stronger resolution from
Comox-Strathcona Regional District.  The CSRD resolution was passed.


B128 COALBED METHANE DEVELOPMENT
PEACE RIVER Regional District
WHEREAS the provincial government is looking to prosper from the development
of coalbed methane gas as a new energy source;
AND WHEREAS the Minister of Energy and Mines has developed a coalbed methane
policy:
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Union of BC Municipalities support the
development of the provincial government's coalbed methane gas extraction
initiative with regulations that consider openly the landowner, tenure
holder and Crown considerations in an environmentally and economically
responsible manner.

B129 COALBED METHANE
COMOX-STRATHCONA Regional District
WHEREAS the Province of British Columbia is promoting the exploration and
development of coalbed methane and has implemented a number of legislative
and monetary incentives and has sold more than $50 million in drilling
rights for coalbed
methane projects;
AND WHEREAS coalbed methane development has high risks, especially regarding
impacts on groundwater and the quality of disposed water from its processes;
AND WHEREAS local communities, including their local governments, First
Nations and potentially affected landowners have not been adequately
informed or consulted about the effects of coalbed methane production;
AND WHEREAS the provincial government has not completed baseline studies in
the watersheds nor has it put in place adequate policies, procedures,
regulations and enforcement tools to protect communities from potential
harm:
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Union of BC Municipalities request that
the provincial government issue no further drilling licences, tenures, or
other permits for coalbed methane exploration and development until local
communities, their local government and First Nations are consulted and
their concerns are fully considered and until adequate policies, regulations
and guidelines are enacted to ensure the safe development of coalbed methane
in the Province of British Columbia.

www.civicnet.bc.ca/Files/500485293822200332901PM2003UBCMresolutions.pdf

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