This is another:

(Saint-Pierre-les-Becquets) There will be no exploration or exploitation of shale gas in the territory of Saint-Pierre-les-Becquets.

The municipal council of the municipality of Centre-du-Québec decided unanimously Tuesday night to close its doors to all forms of collaboration with the gas industry, in addition to claiming the government for a moratorium and the extension of mandate of the BAPE.

The issue already concerned municipal officials for several months, but concerns have grown with the filing of a petition signed by 150 local citizens, expressing their concern over the exploration and exploitation of this resource.

Furthermore, adverse events that occurred several months ago had already rung a bell in the Municipality.

"There was an unauthorized drilling in the field of an individual in Sainte-Sophie-de-Lévrard. The company said it had permission, but the owner had never given its consent. The drill was held in a place where the water table of our community could be affected, "said Mayor Jean-Guy Paré.

The board has adopted five resolutions prohibiting exploration and exploitation, the removal of water and untreated water into the activities of the industry and the donation or sale of water to others . Finally, the Municipality does not allow the storage or water treatment and sludge from drilling on its territory.

Two other resolutions also adopted unanimously will be sent to the Government and the MRC de Bécancour, a demand for the immediate imposition of a moratorium, and on expanding the mandate of the BAPE to give more time to analyze the economic and environmental benefits.

"It's a position we took, especially in connection with drinking water. Our water table also serves Sainte-Cécile-de-Lévrard and part of Sainte-Sophie-de-Lévrard. We have a responsibility to our citizens and we will prioritize the first 2000 people and farms dependent on this water supply industry, "said Jean-Guy Paré, who hopes other municipalities will adopt the position Saint-Pierre-les-Becquets.

Citizens satisfied

The citizens of Saint-Pierre-les-Becquets applauded Tuesday night, the adoption of these resolutions by the council. Fifty of them had moved to come hear the position of the Municipality.

"This is great news for us and we commend our elected officials to listen," says Philippe Gingras, one of the instigators of the petition that was circulated in the municipality of 1150 inhabitants.

"Our goal was to inform people so they can make an informed decision and I think we have reached the goal. It is not our purpose to say we do not want the shale gas, but why wait to experience problems before introducing a moratorium? Right now, I think we take the means to do it right and avoid problems that can be avoided, "says Gingras

Because even if no drilling was taking place on the territory of the municipality, the citizens would be particularly worried by the presence of a sub-contracting company Talisman, located opposite the school on the corner, and could be called to transport and store chemicals in Saint-Pierre-les-Becquets.

Moreover, the quality and quantity of water also worried. Owner of a nursery and a blueberry, Philippe Grenier says that if drainage or contamination of wells, his company would be among the local agencies that would suffer. "We did not have insurance for it, nobody does the availability of water. If it had to happen during a heat wave is all my generation that I'm going to lose, "he recalls.

MRC de Bécancour

The Prefect of the MRC de Bécancour, Bécancour Mayor Maurice Richard, said that the application of Saint-Pierre-les-Becquets will be considered at the next MRC meeting next Wednesday. "It's their right to adopt such a position. Now, I hear all the other mayors on the issue, "says Richard, who said that last month, the RCN had already adopted a resolution demanding royalties to municipalities.

The News has placed an interview request from the Oil and Gas Association of Quebec, but had not received a return call at the time of printing.

Resolutions adopted by the municipal council of Saint-Pierre-les-Becquets

1 - The City Council does not permit use of its water supply through exploration and exploitation of shale gas.

2 - The Board gives no authorization for taking raw water from its territory, and this, for both surface water and groundwater for the purpose of exploration or production of shale gas.

3 - The board does not allow exploration and exploitation of shale gas in its territory.

4 - The board does not accept water and sludge post-drilling on its territory from wells for exploration and exploitation of shale gas.

5 - The board does not allow a person or entity from selling or giving water to a third party in connection with the exploration or exploitation of shale gas.

Resolutions sent to the Government and the MRC

6 - The Council is asking the Quebec government to immediately impose a moratorium on exploration and exploitation of shale gas.

7 - The Board requests the Government of Quebec to broaden the mandate of the Office of Public Hearings on the environment and give more time to analyze the economic and environmental benefits.
Deschaillons also

Saint-Pierre-les-Becquets was not the only municipality in the MRC de Bécancour to take a position on the issue of shale gas on Tuesday evening.

City Council Deschaillons-sur-Saint-Laurent was also passed resolutions in order to better regulate the exploration and exploitation on their territory.

For now, no drilling takes place in Deschaillons, but the city council still wanted to decide the delicate issue of water, an essential resource in the process of drilling and rock fracturing to release the gas shale.

The Municipality does not provide water to industry. It will not host either the drilling waste.

"The counselors are not adverse to shale gas, but the council believes, as the FQM (Quebec Federation of Municipalities) need to better regulate the industry, we need a legislative framework to exploit this natural resource" , said the mayor Deschaillons, Christian Baril.

The City Council at the same time supported the position taken by the FQM, who wants to make the continuation of the shale gas industry conditional on the adoption of a law that would oversee its activities, in addition to requiring royalties to municipalities and local economic benefits.

"The industry should at least be subject to the law on planning and development", says Christian Baril. This indicates that we must first prioritize citizens and local businesses in regard to drinking water.

"Our wells do not have the ability to provide companies doing exploration. We will put priority on our world, "he quips.

A few miles away in Sainte-Cécile-de-Lévrard, the Municipality should discuss this issue at the next council to be held in three weeks.

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