The controversial practice of shale gas fracking is no longer
welcome within the boundaries of Burnaby, despite the city being
nowhere near Northern B.C.'s wells. On Feb. 18, council passed a
resolution calling for a moratorium on hydraulic fracturing
until more is known about its potential impacts on human life
and the environment. Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, injects
highly pressurized water, sand and chemicals down a well to
crack rock formation deep below in an effort to get at natural
gas and other petroleum deposits. The shale gas exploration
process has been around for 60 years but has risen in popularity
in the last 10 years across Canada and the U.S. "While hydraulic
fracturing is not an issue of local concern in Burnaby, the city
has from time to time advocated on environmental matters which
have provincial or national significance," the department of
engineering report states. Hydraulic fracturing raises concerns
because of its use of freshwater in great volume, its disposal
of wastewater, gr