Concerned Citizens write Minister Nuefeld about Telkwa CBM

Honourable Richard Neufeld
Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources
PO Box 9060
STN PROV GOVT
Victoria BC  V8W 9E2

June 8, 2006

Dear Minister Neufeld:

The Bulkley Valley community has serious concerns about the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resource’s plan for coalbed methane (CBM) near Telkwa.

Most people in the community are unaware of potential issues related to the proposed tenure. However, we have recently been made aware of your Ministry’s decision to fast track a 60-day formal tenure referral process, which will begin this week.  The Ministry has stated their intent to improve public engagement and consultation, but we feel 60 days is not sufficient time to educate the community to make an informed decision. 

In order to ensure that the community has all the facts necessary to make an informed decision about CBM development in our community, we respectfully request that you extend the 60-day tenure referral process to 150 days.  We also request that the 150 day process not be initiated until the public forum has been completed.

Sincerely,

Richard Overstall,  Telkwa,
Susanne Watson, Telkwa,
Tom Buri, Smithers BC,
Peter Kraus, Smithers BC,
Wes Geisbrecht, Smithers,
Dorothy Geisbrecht, Smithers,
Pat Moss, Smithers BC,
Jim Simonelli, Telkwa,
Gene Allen, Hazelton
Jim Allen, Hazelton,
Toni Kent, Telkwa,
Lyn Sherville, Smithers,
Sheila Peters, Smithers,
Taylor Bachrach, Telkwa BC, 
Merran Smith, Smithers BC, 
Greg Brown, Smithers BC,
Nikki Skuce, Smithers BC,
Shannon McPhail, Kispiox BC,
Todd Stockner, Kispiox BC,
Kathy Larson, Kispiox BC,
Joy Allen, Kispiox BC,
Bob Henderson, Telkwa BC,
Margaret Clay, Telkwa BC,
Jack Wertz, Telkwa BC,
Lothar Schaefer, M.D., Smithers, BC,
William MacKenzie, Smithers, BC,
Kirsten Morgan , Smithers, BC,
Deborah Wellwood, Smithers, BC,
Cynthia Schneider, Telkwa, BC,
Dale Schneider, Telkwa, BC,
Kirsteen Laing, Smithers, BC, 
Tracey Moorel, Smithers, BC,
Craig Paulson, Smithers, BC,
Lamont Basset, Smithers, BC,
Tammy DeEllion, Telkwa, BC,
Matthew Pearson, Telkwa, BC,
Shelley Hawrelak, Smithers, BC,
Denis Dore, Smithers,
Steve Hidber, Smithers,

Cc:  

Greg Reimer, Deputy Minister
David Molinski, ADM, Oil and Gas
Yvette Wells, ADM, Marketing, Aboriginal and Community Relations
Office of the Wet’suwet’en, attn Debbie Pierre
Outrider Energy
Town Council, Smithers
Town Council, Telkwa
Town Council, Hazleton