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| Too early to say if fracking is good for the UK, says task force | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| It is too soon to say whether shale gas fracking would be a “good thing” for the UK, the chief of the task force on shale gas has said. Lord Smith of Finsbury, better known as former Labour MP Chris Smith, said the industry had not been transparent enough and that it would take time to reassure the public about the technology. | It is too soon to say whether shale gas fracking would be a “good thing” for the UK, the chief of the task force on shale gas has said. Lord Smith of Finsbury, better known as former Labour MP Chris Smith, said the industry had not been transparent enough and that it would take time to reassure the public about the technology. |
| But Smith said that fracking would be acceptable if certain conditions were met, including a tightening of regulations and monitoring set out in a report from the taskforce on Wednesday. The report found that fracking was safe, for human health and the environment, but only if properly regulated. | But Smith said that fracking would be acceptable if certain conditions were met, including a tightening of regulations and monitoring set out in a report from the taskforce on Wednesday. The report found that fracking was safe, for human health and the environment, but only if properly regulated. |
| Smith maintained that big hurdles still remained before he could give fracking a clean bill of health, chief among these the question of its effect on climate change. “We have not yet concluded that fracking is a good idea for the UK. We still have to look at climate change, and the economics. It would be premature to make conclusions yet on whether it is a good or bad thing. If someone demonstrated that developing this industry in the UK would mean a substantial raising of greenhouse gas emissions, that would be a showstopper.” | Smith maintained that big hurdles still remained before he could give fracking a clean bill of health, chief among these the question of its effect on climate change. “We have not yet concluded that fracking is a good idea for the UK. We still have to look at climate change, and the economics. It would be premature to make conclusions yet on whether it is a good or bad thing. If someone demonstrated that developing this industry in the UK would mean a substantial raising of greenhouse gas emissions, that would be a showstopper.” |
| Smith added that public opinion was still divided on the issue, in part because of a lack of transparency and public engagement from fracking companies until recently. “In the early days, mistakes were made, especially in transparency. That has coloured what has happened since, and people’s views. It will take time for people to be reassured.” | Smith added that public opinion was still divided on the issue, in part because of a lack of transparency and public engagement from fracking companies until recently. “In the early days, mistakes were made, especially in transparency. That has coloured what has happened since, and people’s views. It will take time for people to be reassured.” |
| Fracking is the practice of blasting dense shale rock with a mixture of sand, water and chemicals, opening up tiny fissures in the rock to release the microscopic bubbles of methane gas trapped within, which can then be gathered at the surface. It is controversial because some fracking operations in the US have been associated with pollution, and in the UK it has caused minor earth tremors, but proponents argue that it will create a new indigenous gas source for the UK. | Fracking is the practice of blasting dense shale rock with a mixture of sand, water and chemicals, opening up tiny fissures in the rock to release the microscopic bubbles of methane gas trapped within, which can then be gathered at the surface. It is controversial because some fracking operations in the US have been associated with pollution, and in the UK it has caused minor earth tremors, but proponents argue that it will create a new indigenous gas source for the UK. |
| The report from the taskforce, a body that is independent but funded by the industry, set out several measures necessary to ensure fracking would not cause pollution, or other adverse environmental impacts, and protect public health. These included mandatory “green completion” on fracking wells, which means collecting more than 90% of the methane that can leak from wells. Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas, with an effect on the climate many times more than that of carbon dioxide. | The report from the taskforce, a body that is independent but funded by the industry, set out several measures necessary to ensure fracking would not cause pollution, or other adverse environmental impacts, and protect public health. These included mandatory “green completion” on fracking wells, which means collecting more than 90% of the methane that can leak from wells. Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas, with an effect on the climate many times more than that of carbon dioxide. |
| The regulator, which the report advocates should be a unified body rather than the fragmented system at present, should also ensure that “the very highest standards” are adhered to in the construction of wells. The only well yet to have been fracked in the UK, in Lancaster by Cuadrilla, was later found to have a slightly deformed casing, perhaps as a result of the small earthquake it caused. | The regulator, which the report advocates should be a unified body rather than the fragmented system at present, should also ensure that “the very highest standards” are adhered to in the construction of wells. The only well yet to have been fracked in the UK, in Lancaster by Cuadrilla, was later found to have a slightly deformed casing, perhaps as a result of the small earthquake it caused. |
| All the chemicals used by any fracking company must also be disclosed to the public, not just to the Environment Agency as happens at present, according to the report. The injection underground of flowback water should not be used, as this has caused small earthquakes in the US. | All the chemicals used by any fracking company must also be disclosed to the public, not just to the Environment Agency as happens at present, according to the report. The injection underground of flowback water should not be used, as this has caused small earthquakes in the US. |
| Related: Q&A: shale gas and fracking | Related: Q&A: shale gas and fracking |
| A national committee should also be set up, independent from the regulator, to monitor data from shale gas fracking operations and assess any public health impacts. The taskforce also recommended making it easier to carry out monitoring of fracking activities from the very first stages, after a potential site is identified, in part by loosening planning regulations so that the drilling of monitoring wells would not need specific planning permission, as it does at present. | A national committee should also be set up, independent from the regulator, to monitor data from shale gas fracking operations and assess any public health impacts. The taskforce also recommended making it easier to carry out monitoring of fracking activities from the very first stages, after a potential site is identified, in part by loosening planning regulations so that the drilling of monitoring wells would not need specific planning permission, as it does at present. |
| Lord Smith, former chairman of the Environment Agency, said the object of the report, the second of four parts, was to clarify some of the main issues around fracking so that members of the public could make up their own minds. “Some people are very clearly against, and some people are very clearly for, but most of the public are probably feeling they don’t have sufficient information to make a reasoned judgement.” | Lord Smith, former chairman of the Environment Agency, said the object of the report, the second of four parts, was to clarify some of the main issues around fracking so that members of the public could make up their own minds. “Some people are very clearly against, and some people are very clearly for, but most of the public are probably feeling they don’t have sufficient information to make a reasoned judgement.” |
| Ken Cronin, chief executive of UK Onshore Oil and Gas, which represents the industry, said: “The report highlighted a number of areas we have already considered and taken action on. I was particularly pleased to note the taskforce is satisfied that the risk levels associated with public health hazards are acceptable provided the well is properly drilled, protected, monitored and regulated.” | Ken Cronin, chief executive of UK Onshore Oil and Gas, which represents the industry, said: “The report highlighted a number of areas we have already considered and taken action on. I was particularly pleased to note the taskforce is satisfied that the risk levels associated with public health hazards are acceptable provided the well is properly drilled, protected, monitored and regulated.” |
| Friends of the Earth energy campaigner Tony Bosworth said: “Tougher rules can only make fracking safer, not safe. This dangerous technology will always carry risks for the local environment and people’s health, as well as adding to climate change – so no amount of regulation or industry-funded task forces will make people embrace fracking.” | |
| The next section of the taskforce’s study, which will deal with the effects on climate change, is to be published in September. | The next section of the taskforce’s study, which will deal with the effects on climate change, is to be published in September. |