I was not aware that an oil and gas exploration company was given exploration rights to over a third of the Island, but apparently they do. Anyway, one of the unions representing provincial workers, including workers in the environment department, have spoken out with concerns that this gas exploration may effect our drinking water.

A provincial government union is urging P.E.I.'s environment minister to ensure a gas exploration company doesn't ruin the Island's groundwater.

The Union of Public Sector Employees wants Richard Brown to ensure PetroWorth doesn't carry out a procedure called fracking.

That's where millions of gallons of water, sand and chemicals are pumped into a natural gas well. The extreme pressure fractures the sandstone, enabling the gas to flow better.

But there are concerns the chemicals could contaminate drinking water. Also, the process uses a lot of water.

Gas extraction might ruin water, union says
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/prince-edward-island/story/2010/11/05/pei-upse-...

The next day, the oil and gas company, Petroworth, released a statement saying the union statement from the day before was misleading. I find it interesting that they don't say how the union's statement is misleading, it just is i guess...

A company exploring for natural gas on P.E.I. says a provincial union is putting out misleading information about some of the techniques used in exploration.

The Union of Public Sector Employees asked the government last week to prevent Petroworth, which currently hold exploration rights to about a third of the Island, from fracking as part of its work.

Fracking is a procedure that pumps millions of litres of water, chemicals and sand into a gas well to fracture the rock and get the gas flowing better. UPSE is concerned about the effect of the process on P.E.I.'s groundwater.

Union misleading on gas exploration: company
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/prince-edward-island/story/2010/11/08/pei-petro...