Presently in British Columbia, there are no hydraulic fracturing activities occurring anywhere near hydroelectric dams, contrary to the impression left by a recent report released by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives.

To fulfil a duty to protect public safety, the BC Oil and Gas Commission and BC Hydro’s engineering staff work together to ensure no oil and gas activity, including hydraulic fracturing, can have a negative impact on structural integrity of any hydroelectric dams. These professionals are comfortable that the measures in place, which include exclusion zones, are more than adequate to protect public safety associated with both existing and new structures including Site C.

To be clear, there are exclusion zone areas around major dams in British Columbia. Buffer zones – where oil and gas activities cannot take place – have been placed around dam locations for the past few years, and the Ministry of Natural Gas Development is not issuing any subsurface rights within five kilometres of the Site C construction area.

Additionally, oil and gas operations cannot take place without approval from the provincial regulator. Environmental protection and public safety are important considerations during the review process, and all permits are subject to compliance and enforcement actions by the BC Oil and Gas Commission. The BC Oil and Gas Commission has the authority to reject applications outright or impose stronger safety measures as part of issuing a permit. The engagement process includes First Nations and nearby residents.

It’s also worth noting that the BC Oil and Gas Commission does not conduct this work in isolation. They have almost two decades of experience regulating all aspects of oil and gas activity, with over 200 skilled professionals that work together – including geologists, hydrologists, engineers and environmental specialists – to oversee operations in the province. Staff with the Commission also conduct reviews with officials across other levels of government, including the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Health, and if appropriate, BC Hydro.

And for those that might be unaware, the technology for hydraulic fracturing has existed in British Columbia since the 1950s, approximately ten years after exploration activities first started in the province. Additionally, major dams in the Peace region have been around for decades. That’s a long history of safely producing power while exploring for oil and gas resources in British Columbia – a safety record that speaks for itself. We have the best and brightest watching over the industry to keep that safety record secure.

These are the facts. Unfortunately the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives was compelled to look past these details and – once again – rely on ‘what if’ tactics in an attempt to leave readers with a misguided representation of British Columbia's oil and gas sector.

Bottom line: Regulations and additional measures of precaution are already in place to keep oil and gas operations safe and the integrity of the province’s hydroelectric dams secure.