https://thenarwhal.ca Deep Dives, Cold Facts, & Pointed Commentary en-US Copyright 2026 The Narwhal hourly 1 https://thenarwhal.ca/drax-bc-old-growth-logging/ Sun, 23 Oct 2022 15:00:00 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=61943 British energy behemoth Drax denied logging old-growth forests to turn into wood pellets, but investigations said otherwise. The mess points to an urgent need to address an ecological crisis and unfolding economic disaster Ben Parfitt and Michelle Connolly Opinion B.C. climate change old-growth forest Photo: Taylor Roades / The Narwhal https://thenarwhal.ca/bc-fracking-earthquakes-study/ Wed, 26 May 2021 17:31:31 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=29108 In a newly published study, a former hydrologist with the provincial oil and gas regulator argues the cumulative impacts of fracking in the Montney region is creating a level of seismic instability that puts local communities at risk Ben Parfitt In-Depth B.C. fracking water Photo: Garth Lenz / The Narwhal https://thenarwhal.ca/bc-fracking-agricultural-land-radioactive-waste/ Sat, 28 Nov 2020 17:35:24 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=24221 As natural gas operations continue to encroach on farms and ranches in the province’s energy-rich northeast, concerns are building over the threat radioactive waste poses to clean water Ben Parfitt On the ground agriculture B.C. fracking hazardous waste natural gas water Hans Kirschbaum, reporter Ben Parfitt and Anja Hutgens at a C-ring https://thenarwhal.ca/grand-forks-flooding-lawsuit-b-c-government-forestry/ Mon, 14 Sep 2020 19:47:56 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=22091 Excessive logging in British Columbia interior has ‘increased the frequency, duration and magnitude’ of floods, according to civil claim Ben Parfitt News B.C. Climate flooding forestry Grand Forks Grand Forks flooding 2018 https://thenarwhal.ca/bc-hazardous-waste-handlers-break-rules-investigation/ Mon, 20 Jul 2020 18:40:26 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=20474 Provincial investigators found companies weren’t fully compliant with regulations 70 per cent of the time in the five years since a digital database of shipments was replaced with paper files shoved in cardboard boxes Ben Parfitt Investigation B.C. environmental law hazardous waste Hazardous waste https://thenarwhal.ca/why-alberta-court-decision-quash-oilsands-project-affects-treaty-rights-cases-b-c/ Thu, 28 May 2020 16:08:58 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=19125 A recent ruling by three Appeal Court justices has transformed the nature of Treaty 8 First Nations’ legal battles against the Site C dam and oil and gas development, finding the Crown must consider the cumulative impacts of industrial projects Ben Parfitt In-Depth environmental law Indigenous oilsands protected areas Site C dam wildlife Fort McKay First Nation oilsands https://thenarwhal.ca/up-in-smoke-b-c-backtracks-on-promise-to-deter-logging-industry-from-burning-wood-waste/ Sat, 23 May 2020 14:00:16 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=18949 Nearly three years ago the province promised to rein in the air pollution and unwanted emissions from slash-pile burning by introducing a carbon tax that has yet to materialize — to the great frustration of rural communities and a small mill operator who says valuable wood fibre is needlessly going up in smoke Ben Parfitt In-Depth climate change forestry logging Slash pile burn B.C. https://thenarwhal.ca/coronavirus-bc-opens-tree-planting-season-new-rules-wont-protect-remote-communities/ Sat, 25 Apr 2020 01:34:46 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=18342 Wildfire, pine beetle and industrial logging have left some areas of the province vulnerable to floods and in need of trees. But the deployment of 5,000 workers has both contractors and First Nations scrambling to ensure the tree-planting season won’t do more harm than good Ben Parfitt News climate change coronavirus forestry Tree planting BC Coronavirus https://thenarwhal.ca/b-c-s-most-ambitious-tree-planting-season-ever-on-the-chopping-block-as-coronavirus-wreaks-havoc/ Sat, 11 Apr 2020 15:58:34 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=17918 Industry rushes to come up with plan that will enable 5,000 tree planters to get to work planting 230 million seedlings, while respecting social distancing requirements  Ben Parfitt News B.C. wildfires coronavirus COVID-19 forestry tree planting Tree planting B.C. https://thenarwhal.ca/inside-bc-hydros-lost-battle-to-protect-major-hydro-dams-from-fracking-earthquakes/ Thu, 16 Jan 2020 18:27:34 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=16346 A significant shake near the Site C dam in 2018 seemed like reason enough to reconsider the close proximity of fracking and disposal well operations near major hydro infrastructure. But documents released through a freedom of information request show BC Hydro failed to convince B.C.’s oil and gas regulator to impose outright bans on such activities close to its Peace Canyon and Site C dams Ben Parfitt Investigation BC Hydro BCOGC fracking LNG Peace Canyon dam Site C dam WAC Bennett Dam Peace Canyon Dam BC Jayce Hawkins The Narwhal https://thenarwhal.ca/peace-canyon-dam-at-risk-of-failure-from-fracking-induced-earthquakes-documents-reveal/ Thu, 09 Jan 2020 17:07:50 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=16202 BC Hydro knew for years that earthquakes triggered by fracking operations posed risks to vulnerable Peace Canyon dam and ongoing challenges at the Site C dam, according to documents obtained under freedom of information legislation Ben Parfitt Investigation BC Hydro fracking Peace Canyon dam Site C dam W.A.C. Bennett Dam A Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. gas well