Coal Bed Methane, Environmental and Social Effects

Coal bed methane is natural gas that forms in coal, coal beds occur from Campbell River to Nanaimo, and the provincial government and companies are interested in exploiting this resource. While the major environmental problem with CBM is "produced water" which is usually saline, unpotable, and often contains other toxic substances, the large volume of water will also have inevitable hydrological and environmental impacts including impacts on salmon habitat. The hundreds of wells required in a relatively confined area, plus the roads, pipelines, power lines, compressors, etc., will industrialize the landscape, and will drive down real estate prices.

Arthur Caldicott has a keen interest in energy and environmental issues. He is a founding director of the GSX (Georgia Strait Crossing) Concerned Citizens Coalition (which resulted in the cancellation of the GSX Pipeline and the Duke Point Power plant), remains engaged with several other Vancouver Island energy issues, and maintains the website www.sqwalk.com. Arthur continues to research, write, and interact with communities on a broad range of energy issues such as coaled methane (CBM), liquefied natural gas (LNG), pipelines, small hydro, and ocean energy.

Arthur's presentation is a coal bed methane primer ; what it is, how it is produced, what the issues are, and how Vancouver Island communities should respond. Please come and join us to become better informed on this important issue.

Meetings of the Comox Valley Naturalists Society are held on the third Sunday of most months at the Florence Filberg Centre, 411 Anderdon, Courtenay. Meetings are open to the public, including youth. A donation of $2.00 is suggested for non-members, and new memberships are always welcomed. Meetings are not held in December, July, and August. The February 17 meeting is a "Members Presentation Night" with a variety of short presentations. The public is invited, tentative presentations are; A photo study of Birds Mammals and Reptiles of Brazil (B. Connell), Flowers of Hurricane Ridge, Olympic National Park Washington (K. Kaptein), A Naturalists Visit to Cathedral Lakes Provincial Park (F.Hovenden), and time permitting, Queen Charlotte Islands, Old Haida Sites, and General Scenery (D.Lacelle). The CVNS March presentatation will be: Mar. 16, 2008, Mr. Scott Wallace, "Basking Sharks.", as well as a short presentation on "The Comox Valley Conservation Strategy" by Mr. D. Stapley.

Please come out and join us for these important environmental topics. For more information on CVNS please visit the website at www.comoxvalleynaturalist.bc.ca.

The regular Monthly Meeting of the Comox Valley Naturalists Society will be held Jan. 20 2008, at 7:00 pm at the Florence Filberg Centre, 411 Anderton Avenue, Courtenay. The featured speaker will be Mr. Arthur Caldicott.