The Flathead Coalition announced today that its internal evaluation of BP-Canada Energy Company’s environmental science demonstrates bias toward understating the likely environmental impact of its proposed Mist Mountain CBM project.
The Mist Mountain CBM project is being planned by BP-Canada for the Crowsnest Coalfield area that spans the Elk River and Flathead River hydrologic divide. The B.C. government granted tenure last December for the Elk Valley portions of the coalfield. BP says it plans to start exploratory drilling in early 2010, though it may commence sooner.
“The problem with BP’s science can be stated matter of factly,” said David Hadden, president of the bi-national Flathead Coalition. “BP’s science will not establish baseline environmental conditions over the project area, it actually has missed important Canadian Species At Risk Act-listed and U.S. Endangered Species Act-listed species, does not take in to consideration the potential impacts on internationally significant Waterton and Glacier parks, both World Heritage Sites, and fails to address cumulative effects from a sprawling network of industrial activity. BP’s inadequate science program will inevitably lead them to underestimate the short and long-term impacts of their large-scale project to the fish, wildlife and water of the region.”
According to Hadden, these shortcomings are in addition to the unscientific practice of the province that allows companies to conduct their own environmental evaluation and assessment.
“The provincial government’s policy is akin to letting the fox examine the hen house before a raid,” said Hadden. “The practice leads to inherent scientific bias that leads in turn to missed information and eventually and likely to greater environmental harm. Any high school graduate knows that science must control for bias. B.C. policy widely misses the mark.”
Perhaps most serious, according to Hadden, is the government’s refusal to join with Montana and the U.S. government scientists to conduct joint science in this transboundary region.
“The International Joint Commission has established along the entire Canadian – U.S. line the priority and need for bi-national fact finding for projects affecting international watersheds. The B.C. government is missing its responsibility in this regard,” cited Hadden.
The Mist Mountain Project has been controversial in both the Elk and Flathead Valleys because of perceived and likely adverse environmental impacts to water quality and wildlife.
The Flathead Coalition has monitored energy and mining proposals in the transboundary Flathead since 1975.
