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Cuadrilla breaks earthquake safety regulations within 6 days, Friends of the Earth says clearly time for climate-wrecking industry to be banned

news release

An earthquake measuring 1.6 on the Richter scale has led to Cuadrilla halting fracking operations in Lancashire, less than a week after resuming. Earthquake regulations are in place to protect the safety of local communities. 

In 60 days of fracking last year, there were 57 earthquakes in Lancashire. Green group Friends of the Earth is calling for the controversial industry to be banned.  

Jamie Peters, campaigner at Friends of the Earth, said: 

“It’s obvious that fracking can’t be done without triggering earthquakes. This latest quake is a sign that Cuadrilla just can’t stick within the regulations they agreed.  Even small vibrations at ground level can be the sign of far more damaging impacts deep underground. Earthquake regulations must be maintained for the safety of local communities. 52 seismic events in just 6 days of fracking and now the biggest earthquake at the site clearly underlines that this is absolutely not the time to start weakening regulations.    

“Fracking just isn’t part of the future if the government is serious about avoiding climate breakdown, in fact it defies belief that the oil and gas industry think they are part of a response to climate change. It’s time to ban climate-wrecking fracking and back renewable energy and green jobs instead.” 

ENDS 

Notes to editors: 

1.              Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking as it’s commonly known, is the controversial process of pumping a high-pressure mixture of chemicals and water into shale rock, ‘fracturing’ it to release gas. 

2.              Friends of the Earth is an international community dedicated to the protection of the natural world and the wellbeing of everyone in it. We bring together more than two million people in 75 countries, combining people power all over the world to transform local actions into global impact. For more information visit: https://friendsoftheearth.uk/ follow us at @friends_earth, or like our Facebook page. 

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