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January 06 2009 » News Clippings » Terrace Standard

Tahltan needs its own say in coalbed methane drilling

THE TAHLTAN need their own method of providing information about coalbed methane natural gas before they can decide if drilling should take place in the Klappan area, says one of their elected leaders.

Tahltan Central Council chair Annita McPhee said there’s inadequate information coming from Shell, which has been stymied in its plans to drill in the area save for three holes completed back in 2004, or from environmental groups, which have conducted a fierce campaign to force Shell out of the area.

“This information has to come from an independent and neutral third party,” said McPhee who suggested the council, which is the overall governing body of the Tahltan, should take that role.

And she’s also suggesting that a two-year halt to any drilling agreed to by Shell earlier this month in order to give the Tahltan enough time to develop a consensus about coal bed methane might not be long enough.

“We need time to make an informed decision,” said McPhee. “We’re not saying we approve or oppose [Shell’s drilling plans] but we applaud their decision because it gives us the time to make a decision that respects and recognizes Tahltan title.”

“This process could actually take more than two years. These are important decisions.”

McPhee said the first step is for the Tahltan to design a way of providing enough information so that all Tahltan feel informed enough and then decide how to make a decision as to whether Shell should proceed or not.

“What we need is to provide full and informed consent,” said McPhee. “The information that’s been provided by Shell and the NGOs (non governmental organizations) hasn’t been sufficient.”

“What we need to take is a very cautious approach to development,” she added.

Shell has exclusive rights from the provincial government to drill for coalbed methane natural gas in the Klappan area northeast of here.

Coalbed natural gas is so-named because it is found next to coal seams and often kept in place by water. Having coalbed methane flow to the surface means pumping out the water and that has raised fears by environmental groups and others that the water could be poisonous and a hazard to surface water if released above ground.

The Klappan contains the headwaters of the Skeena, Stikine and Nass rivers, heightening that fear of harm to fish and other habitat. The area has also been called the Sacred Headwaters.

Shell has, however, said it will not release underground water above ground, a commitment made before it became a provincial regulation.

The exploration drill program planned for this year and now shelved for two years called for underground water, if found, to be trucked to Fort St. John for treatment at a facility there.

McPhee said Shell’s plans for the Klappan, and plans by any other companies who want to make money on Tahltan traditional territory, should more correctly be looked at once a master environmental, economic and social development plan is crafted.

“We need eco-system mapping, we need to understand the cumulative impact of development. We do recognize the need for development but it all has to fit,” she said.

“We need to protect our land and our heritage and to make sure that what development there is sustainable,” McPhee added.

She said a properly set up method of distributing information and a method of then making a decision will do away with what she described as internal conflict within the Tahltan about development.

“This has to be a very clear process and a unified approach,” McPhee said.

Not all Tahltan were in favour of forcing Shell out of the Klappan. A Tahltan-owned company, the Tahltan Nation Development Company, supplied labour and equipment to Shell when it was working in the area.

McPhee was also withholding comment on how the Tahltan should decide if coalbed methane drilling should take place or not.

NovaGold, when it was ramping up to start construction on its now-shelved Galore Creek copper and gold mine, signed an economic deal with the Tahltan which was then put to a vote.

McPhee didn’t dismiss the idea of a referendum on the Shell situation outright, but did say the runup to the Galore Creek vote took place very quickly.

“I did not think there was enough time to process all of the information,” said McPhee. “On this, I am guided by the elders. They need time to do that, to process the information. And I respect that.”

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