GM Councils must refuse fracking as new review finds ‘Gold Standard’ fracking regulation is a myth – Friends of the Earth

An immediate suspension of further unconventional gas exploration and production – including fracking – is essential because regulation of the industry is flawed or not properly applied and enforced, concludes a new review by Friends of the Earth [1].

The environmental group is calling on all Greater Manchester councils to refuse any applications for drilling or fracking in light of the evidence of failings in regulation and the unacceptable risk posed to the environment and communities.

Trafford Council will be deciding on an application for coal bed methane production at a site in Davyhulme this summer, while IGas is expected to apply to frack the well at Barton Moss in Salford later this year.

The Government and industry have repeatedly claimed that UK fracking regulation is the world’s toughest and ‘gold standard’. But Friends of the Earth’s analysis identifies serious shortcomings which pose major risks to the environment and communities across Greater Manchester who are faced with fracking.

Friends of the Earth’s North West Campaigner Helen Rimmer said:

“The Government’s claim that the regulation of fracking in the UK is gold standard does not stand up to scrutiny. We have seen consistent flaws in planning and regulation at sites across the North West including Barton Moss in Salford.

“As the Government is poised to licence much of Greater Manchester to potential fracking, and IGas seeks permission to drill for gas in Trafford, communities across the region will be concerned at the failings of the regulation that is supposed to protect them.

“We don’t need risky fracking. The real solution to our energy needs is to exploit the North West’s huge potential for renewables, which could power the nation and herald a new green industrial revolution.”

Helen Chuntso a Salford resident who supported the campaign against Barton Moss drilling said:

“The rights of ordinary people across Greater Manchester are being removed as the Government pushes ahead with fracking and makes it easier for the frackers.

“Freedom of Information requests I made to the Environment Agency demonstrate that the so called robust regulation resulted in inspections at Barton Moss which were scant and inadequate. In practice it is a myth that this industry is well regulated.” [2]

Among the failings exposed by the Friends of the Earth report are:

• Community involvement in decision-making is being undermined
– for example by proposed changes to trespass laws which remove peoples’ right to object to fracking under their homes

• Water contamination and supply risks, climate change impacts and the effects on protected habitats are not being adequately assessed
–   for example there have been no Environmental Impact Assessments at any drilling or fracking site in Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Cheshire – including Barton Moss, despite close proximity to residential areas, farms and nature-rich mossland

• Inadequate monitoring and enforcement by regulators, leading to a culture of self-regulation and operators ‘marking their own homework’
–   for example despite only having permission to drill to the coal bed methane layer at 1300 deep at Barton Moss, IGas explored for shale gas at 3000m yet no enforcement action was taken by Salford Council.

• Regulators are facing budget and staff cuts

• Gas and oil companies trying to weaken regulation by direct lobbying of senior civil servants

Basic minimum improvements needed to reduce risks include:

• A commitment to full public participation in decision-making, including scrapping proposed changes to the trespass law

• A full assessment of all climate change impacts

• The use of a ‘precautionary approach’ by all decision-makers

• Ensuring full and independent enforcement of all regulations

• Full baseline monitoring of water, soil and air before drilling so that the scale and impact of any subsequent contamination can be identified

• If fracking is proposed at several sites, assess total impact rather than look at sites in isolation

However Friends of the Earth argues that introducing this regulation would not remove the risk of major problems, and fracking would still not be the answer to the UK’s energy problems, because burning more fossils fuels will cause more climate change.

ENDS

Contact: Friends of the Earth press office – 020 7566 1422

Notes to editors

1. ‘All that glitters…’ – Is the regulation of unconventional gas and oil exploration in England really gold standard’? report. See pages 12, 16, 17, 18, 19, 22 for examples from the North West.   Executive Summary available.

2. Information obtained in Freedom of Information requests from Helen Chuntso is available here and here.