(BY HUGO)
Just a quick post to follow up on reports relating to shale gas leaks from wells in Québec.
The Québec Ministry for Natural Resources and Wildlife, Nathalie Normandeau, has recently described gas leaks from fracking exploration wells as negligible by likening them to cow farts. Thankfully, less clownish politicians have taken a more cautious approach on the issue since then (article here by Robert Dutrisac and Louis-Gilles Francoeur, Le Devoir, 22 January 2011 - in French).
Now, Andrew Revkin from Dot Earth in the New York Times points to interesting scientific developments (blog post here):
- Abrahm Lustgarten, «Climate Benefits of Natural Gas May Be Overstated», 25 January 2011, Propublica;
- Robert Howarth, «Preliminary Assessment of the Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Natural Gas Obtanied by Hydraulic Fracturing», Departement of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University.
All well worth a read, and it supports the work done by Nature Québec (as reported here by Louis-Gilles Francoeur, Le Devoir, 19 January 2011 - both in French). Hopefully, these inputs will be considered by the BAPE.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Follow-up on the sleeping giant in Québec water case law 12
(BY HUGO)
In a previous blog post, a recourse by aboriginal communities on the North Shore of the St. Lawrence River against Hydro-Québec as well as the federal and provincial governments was mentioned as potentially very interesting - and one to follow-up on...
Apparently, it might just end there. CBC reports (in French) that Hydro-Québec could pay CDN$ 125 M to the First Nations in pre-trial settlement of the claim.
In a previous blog post, a recourse by aboriginal communities on the North Shore of the St. Lawrence River against Hydro-Québec as well as the federal and provincial governments was mentioned as potentially very interesting - and one to follow-up on...
Apparently, it might just end there. CBC reports (in French) that Hydro-Québec could pay CDN$ 125 M to the First Nations in pre-trial settlement of the claim.
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Dundee UNESCO Centre for Water Law Symposium
(BY HUGO)
On 20-24 June 2011, the Centre for Water Law, Policy and Science, University of Dundee, will hold a Symposium on National Water Law: Managing Global Water Resources.
The Symposium will «focus on water resources, rather than the delivery of services, and will take a comparative approach, drawing on experience from different jurisdictions. Best practice will be highlighted based on approaches that have successfuly tackled universal problems.»
Additional information on programme and registration can be found here.
On 20-24 June 2011, the Centre for Water Law, Policy and Science, University of Dundee, will hold a Symposium on National Water Law: Managing Global Water Resources.
The Symposium will «focus on water resources, rather than the delivery of services, and will take a comparative approach, drawing on experience from different jurisdictions. Best practice will be highlighted based on approaches that have successfuly tackled universal problems.»
Additional information on programme and registration can be found here.
Friday, January 21, 2011
COGESAF Forum on stormwater management in urban area
(BY HUGO)
On 23-25 October 2011, the Saint-Francois Watershed Steering Committee (COGESAF), in partnership with Sherbrooke University and Sherbrooke City, will organize the second edition of International Forum on Integrated Water management on "Stormwater management in urban area".
The Forum «aims to increase the global knowledge on stormwater management in urban areas to all the actors in Quebec, Canada and around the world. Furthermore, an added value will come from the presence of internationally renowned experts wishing to share their advanced research and positive experiences about the development and implementation tools for a better control of stormwater.»
Theme 1 «Governance, strategy development and territorial planning» notably focuses on legal instrument and governance tools for sustainable stormwater management.
On 23-25 October 2011, the Saint-Francois Watershed Steering Committee (COGESAF), in partnership with Sherbrooke University and Sherbrooke City, will organize the second edition of International Forum on Integrated Water management on "Stormwater management in urban area".
The Forum «aims to increase the global knowledge on stormwater management in urban areas to all the actors in Quebec, Canada and around the world. Furthermore, an added value will come from the presence of internationally renowned experts wishing to share their advanced research and positive experiences about the development and implementation tools for a better control of stormwater.»
Theme 1 «Governance, strategy development and territorial planning» notably focuses on legal instrument and governance tools for sustainable stormwater management.
Friday, January 14, 2011
Drinking water fluoride content level to be lowered in the U.S.A.?
(BY HUGO)
In the U.S.A., current public health guidelines call for drinking water fluoride levels between 0.7 milligrams per liter and 1.2 milligrams per liter.
However, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (H.H.S) now recommends that fluoridation be pegged at 0.7 milligrams, the bottom level of the current guidelines' range. Moreover, on 7 January 2011, the U.S. E.P.A. and the H.H.S., announced that they would review the guidelines to ensure maximal health protection (see E.P.A.'s website for background sources).
One of the issues appears to be the possible adverse health impact of cumulative fluoride ingestion from other sources than drinking water (toothpaste, processed food with high fluoride content due to traces of pesticides, etc).
In Québec, optimal drinking water fluoride levels are set at 0.7 milligrams per liter under the Regulation prescribing the optimum fluoride concentration to prevent tooth decay. One eye should be kept on developments South of the border in the event that the E.P.A. review detemines that a lower fluoride concentration is more protective of public health.
In the U.S.A., current public health guidelines call for drinking water fluoride levels between 0.7 milligrams per liter and 1.2 milligrams per liter.
However, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (H.H.S) now recommends that fluoridation be pegged at 0.7 milligrams, the bottom level of the current guidelines' range. Moreover, on 7 January 2011, the U.S. E.P.A. and the H.H.S., announced that they would review the guidelines to ensure maximal health protection (see E.P.A.'s website for background sources).
One of the issues appears to be the possible adverse health impact of cumulative fluoride ingestion from other sources than drinking water (toothpaste, processed food with high fluoride content due to traces of pesticides, etc).
In Québec, optimal drinking water fluoride levels are set at 0.7 milligrams per liter under the Regulation prescribing the optimum fluoride concentration to prevent tooth decay. One eye should be kept on developments South of the border in the event that the E.P.A. review detemines that a lower fluoride concentration is more protective of public health.
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