The British Columbia (B.C.) government has awarded a contract, valued at $100,000, to the Fraser Basin Council (FBC) for the first phase of a human health risk assessment of oil and gas development in northeast B.C.
The first phase, which will consist of a public and stakeholder engagement, will help the government better understand the human health concerns that some have expressed about oil and gas development in B.C., and will help develop recommendations for future action.
FBC will meet with citizens' groups, health professionals, academics, non-profits, representatives from all orders of government, including First Nations, oil and gas industry representatives, and other interested parties and individuals in northeast B.C.
A variety of methods for input will be made available, including traditional mail and online.
FBC will announce these methods in early 2012.
The contract is scheduled to be completed by March 31, 2012.
The full risk assessment will consist of three phases:
-phase one - public engagement to inform the scope and terms of reference and identify concerns relating to oil and gas development
-phase two - a human health risk assessment based on findings from phase one and a comprehensive scientific review of evidence
-phase three - reporting findings to the B.C. government, stakeholders and the public.
"It is important that we take the time to carefully consider all public-health aspects related to oil and gas development, and that is just what this study will do," said Pat Pimm, member of the Legislative Assembly for Peace River North, in a statement.
Established in 1997, the FBC frequently serves as an impartial facilitator and a sustainability educator, and also assists with conflict and dispute resolution, applied research and analysis, program coordination, and secretariat services.
This news item first appeared in EcoLog News (1/27/12). To learn how to subscribe, visit www.ecolog.com