Dr. Ian Mauro
WINNIPEG, MB – UWinnipeg’s Dr. Ian Mauro, department of geography, is serving on an expert panel on hydraulic fracturing in Nova Scotia, which released his paper today entitled “The Environmental Impacts of Hydraulic Fracturing in Nova Scotia – A public participatory risk assessment”. Analyzing 238 unique submissions to the Expert Panel, Mauro determined the most significant public concerns, and compared this with the available scientific research.
“The public views environmental risks associated with hydraulic fracturing in a holistic way,” says Mauro. “They are concerned about the shale gas industry’s impact on both human and ecological systems and want to see a precautious approach to development”.
Seventy five percent of submissions to the expert panel called for a ban or continued moratorium on hydraulic fracturing in Nova Scotia. The main perceived risks expressed by the public related to water contamination, impacts on communities and economy, and issues regarding waste cleanup, human health, adverse consequences for climate, and increased potential for earthquakes and habitat fragmentation. Mauro’s analysis demonstrates how these concerns are supported by scientific scholarship. Jordan Poitras, a University of Winnipeg geography student, was a research assistant for the paper, and is pursuing a summer project on hydraulic fracturing.
“This is a complex issue, including the public in risk assessment is an important way to build trust and collaborative knowledge. My research is focused on stakeholder input and hydraulic fracturing, specifically in Aboriginal communities, and working with Dr. Mauro on these projects has been invaluable” says Poitras.
Mauro is one of nine highly qualified experts serving on an Independent Review and Public Consultation in Nova Scotia done in collaboration with Cape Breton University. Mauro and his colleagues were selected out of a specialized pool of 70 individuals that represent the required skill-sets identified to meet the needs of the panel and stakeholders involved.
Various Expert Panelists have and continue to release papers on various topics related to hydraulic fracturing in Nova Scotia. The final report will be released later this summer. More information visit the Expert Panel and its outcomes.
