British Columbia’s Environmental Appeal Board (EAB) has cancelled Calgary-based Nexen Inc.’s licence to pump water from Tsea Lake in B.C.’s Horn River Basin for the purpose of shale gas fracking.
The EAB said in its September 3 decision it is revoking this licence, which was originally granted in 2012, because the science behind the original grant was “flawed.” It also said the Province failed to adequately consult with the Fort Nelson First Nation (FNFN), whose territory includes Tsea Lake.
“Granting this licence was a major mistake by the Province,” FNFN Chief Liz Logan said. “Our members have always used the Tsea Lake area in our territory to hunt, trap and live on the land.”
The licence permitted Nexen, a wholly owned subsidiary of China National Offshore Oil Corp. (CNOOC), to pump millions of cubic metres of water from the lake every year until 2017.
Logan said Nexen continued to pump water out of the lake even when the area was facing drought conditions.
“There were major impacts on the lake, fish, beavers and surrounding environment.”
The EAB said Nexen will be permitted to store and use any water that was already pumped prior to this decision.
“No further water may be diverted under the licence, as of the date of this decision,” the EAB said in its decision.
“Once all of the water currently in storage has been used, the licence is cancelled.”
The EAB has denied FNFN’s request for payment of costs associated with this appeal.
