Category: geology

Special Report: New study identifies earthquake hazards for Hartley Bay, Bella Bella, Kitimat and Terrace

UPDATED with comments from District of Kitimat, Terrace and the Gitga'at Nation A preliminary seismic hazard assessment by Natural Resources Canada has identified possible earthquake scenarios for the Douglas Channel near Hartley Bay, Terrace and Bella Bella. The same studies indicate that while Kitimat may not be directly in a seismic zone prolonged earthquakes cause […]

Strange ancient hippo-like Pacific coast mammal "vacuumed" shoreline plant life

Scientists have identified a new species of a strange marine mammal group that lived on the Pacific Coast between 33 million years ago and 10 million years ago. The new specimens -- from at least four individuals -- were recovered from Unalaska, in theAleutians. The Desmostylians, unlike other marine mammals species alive today -- such […]

Fault zone map Douglas Chanel

New Douglas Channel geological studies near completion

Three studies of the geology of Douglas Channel are near completion and publication, according to Natural Resources Canada. That news comes as studies, released today, warn of a major megathrust earthquake on the fault west of Haida Gwaii. Northwest Coast Energy News asked the Geological Survey of Canada if there were any recent updates available […]

Kitimat Emergency Coordinator Bob McLeod

Is Kitimat ready for a “big one?”

Studies of the October 2012 magnitude 7.8 Haida Gwaii earthquake show that the region is vulnerable to a “major megathrust” earthquake along a newly confirmed fault line west of the islands. That earthquake was felt in Kitimat and Kitamaat Village and a tsunami warning was issued within a few minutes. So have the District of […]

Joint Review Panel

Commentary: The earthshaking difference between Enbridge and LNG

Buried deep in the LNG Canada environmental assessment application, a reader will find a key difference in attitude with at least one of the group of companies planning liquified natural gas development in the northwest and Enbridge Northern Gateway. It's an earthshaking difference, since it's all about earthquakes. The documents filed by LNG Canada with […]

Why BC should watch the Australian election: LNG and natural gas are suddenly a top issue

Could the future of northwestern British Columbia's hoped for natural gas boom depend on the outcome of this weekend's Australian general election? While the mainstream media in North America has mostly been following the personal feud between Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Opposition Leader Tony Abbott or speculating whether or not Wikileaks founder Julian Assange's […]

Apache sells some of its gas and oil assets, confirms commitment to Kitimat project

Apache Corporation said Thursday it will  sell oil and gas producing properties in the Nevis, North Grant Lands and South Grant Lands areas of western Alberta, to Ember Resources Inc., a private Canadian company, for CAN$220 million, as part of the company's "portfolio rebalancing," Apache said in a news release. At the same time, Apache CEO Rodney Eichler […]