That is what regulations are for. For ex. these fugitive emissions in Quebec are considered "bad". Where as in every single other place on the planet with shale gas, they are normal. It's because they have regulations in place that address those issues. Doesn't really matter what the SEA might think, this is what it has been like for decades with the industry, and that they have to accept that. I'm not going to sit here and say that I'm afraid of this SEA, because I'm not. If every single place on the planet understands what a fugitive emission is and how it can be regulated and that it happens in most wells, well then they'll get it too. This is a normal part of the process, and we're frankly going to be teaching them. That's why we will have members of the committee from the industry. If you left it to people who are trying to learn it all from the start, then yeah it'd be hard to get the message accross.

Mr Bouchard works for Talisman, so clearly Talisman wants this or they wouldn't have gone to the trouble to get the best guy to help them in Quebec. Even TLM's comments by Mr Fraser in regards to the BAPE point to them wanting to continue their work...ie. "get this committee set up fast" etc. Talisman already has tons of land in the Marcellus that they can't get too because of what's going on there...Mr Manzoni from TLM even on BNN said that they're not counting the Marcellus in their numbers etc.

These guys realize that they have to change with the times and these new places need some work in convincing the people. Trust me, the government of Quebec itself needs none, but they realize they this so the people do for them to be put at ease. Companies aren't going to abandon this because of a study. If anything they can use it to keep doing what they are, but also prove to the people that there is no risk here.

Take France for example...they have an uproar too, among mostly the rural peoples over shale drilling. You're talking about companies like Total SA who are being told to wait until July to drill because they are doing a study right now. It doesn't matter who the company, no matter how small or how big. Times are changing and they'll move with the times and do what they have to sustain their businesses. If that means having to show people that they can do it safe, they will. All this talk about shale gas in Europe and China etc...be certain that there will be outcry anywhere it is new, just like Quebec. So you can't run away from your problems. They'll have to face them dead on and I have no doubt that they'll be able to prove to Quebec that they can do a great job. Anela from QEC told me they aren't worried about a thing when it comes to this study. If they can safely do it all over Canada, they'll be able to do it anywhere. The only difference is that regulations need to be developed as time goes on, and that's what this study will help with. Ie. yes here are the emissions from a standard well which is considered normal by most Canadian jurisdictions, so let our well inspectors be given a guideline on what kinds of leaks are over the top, and which our fine...this is basically what AB and BC does. This is an example of setting one piece of the pie for the regulations. Or, no drilling within 200m from a residence etc. The main purpose of this study is water contamination.

Umm do you know that QEC/TLM take baseline readings from aquifers before drilling? They then take readings afterwards, and then on for months to make sure that no contamination has occured? Most people don't, but the industry has been labeled the devil here so they'll have no problem letting the committee figure out the same thing on their own, at least that way they can say THEY did the tests and it'll make them believe.

Frankly the whole idea of water contamination is rare if things are done right as we've been saying, this entire test is ridiculous in the eyes of anyone outside Quebec who knows better...but that's just it, they already know with years of experience on what is deemed normal and what is not. This study will help to educate the people of just exactly that. And frankly it's the BAPE that wanted this, and industry welcomes it...that shows zero fear in the quality of their work. The open-minded people will get it. The narrow minded "I never want shale or wind or anything energy" people will ignore anything 100%, but we're not aiming to prove anything to them anyway, they're a bit of a lost cause.