Regulator objects to second oil plan over failure to assess risk to water

The Environment Agency has objected to plans to drill for oil in Dorset because there was no assessment of the risk to water.

The regulator said the application by South Western Energy Limited at Puddletown had “insufficient information” about the risks to drinking water and to a nearby chalk stream.

It said there was no objection in principle to the application, but added:

“We will maintain our objection until we receive a satisfactory risk assessment that demonstrates that the risks to controlled waters posed by this development can be safely managed”.

READ MORE

Facebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmail

FRACKING COMES TO CORK

Why are they planning to create an LNG facility in the Port of Cork – a development which is opposed by activists along the Rio Grande and in Ireland alike?

Fracking is a controversial way of extracting natural gas from beneath the earth’s surface. Already proven to have triggered earthquakes, and with a potential to cause numerous other forms of ecological damage, it has been banned in Ireland. So why are they planning to create an LNG facility in the Port of Cork – a development which is opposed by activists along the Rio Grande and in Ireland alike

Continue reading FRACKING COMES TO CORK

Fracking giant Cuadrilla has agreement with university academics to vet earthquake data requests

Shale gas giant Cuadrilla is facing new questions about the transparency of its fracking operations as it can be revealed the firm has an agreement with a leading university to vet Freedom of Information (FOI) requests about its Lancashire earthquake data.

The agreement came about after Cuadrilla gave Bristol University its seismicity data for a research project and says that Cuadrilla must be consulted over any FOI request about that data made to Bristol University.

The agreement – obtained by i in redacted form under Environmental Information Regulations – says the university will take into account the firm’s representations on whether legal exemptions may apply for refusing to release the data or to even deny holding it.

Fears fracking just a mile away from Merseyside will go ahead despite government halt

Residents in one part of Merseyside are concerned fracking plans just one mile away may still go ahead despite a government halt on the controversial process.

People living in Formby are worried about plans to frack for shale gas at Great Altcar – submitted by energy company Aurora – just a mile from the area and a few miles from Ainsdale, Hightown and Lydiate will cause ‘damage to their health’ and ‘cost jobs’.

In November 2019 the government stopped fracking across England saying it would only allow its resumption if communities and scientists were in favour of it.

But the plans to to drill exploratory wells at Great Altcar in West Lancashire   – just 900 metres from the historic Formby Oilfield is not included in the suspension as it didn’t affect fracking processes that were already in.

Continue reading Fears fracking just a mile away from Merseyside will go ahead despite government halt

Radioactive water disposal plan would turn national park site into toxic dump

IGas should not be allowed to dispose of radioactive wastewater in a well at its Singleton oil site in the South Downs, campaigners have argued.

The company has applied for an environmental permit to continue reinjecting fluid from sites across southern England. The waste contains naturally-occurring radioactive material, known as NORM.

The Weald Action Group has objected to IGas’s application, accusing the company of not providing enough information and underestimating risks.

READ MORE

Facebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmail