March this Saturday – here’s why! http://www.timetoact2015.org/ We are delighted that the Environmental Audit Committee recommended a moratorium on fracking. Their report was released on the same day as the Infrastructure Bill was going through the House of Commons. MPs were therefore denied the opportunity to read the EAC report before voting. This timing also significantly reduced press coverage of the recommended moratorium (“good day to bury bad news tactic”). Follow the link for the report information: http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/environmental-audit-committee/news/environmental-risks-of-fracking-report/ Infrastructure Bill: The vote on the moratorium on fracking was defeated 308 votes to 52, after most Labour MPs abstained. The important clauses allowing fracking companies to drill under land without permission were passed without the opportunity to debate them, even though 367,000+ people have signed a petition against them, and 99% of respondents to the consultation on the Bill were opposed to them. Anyone who has been following the progress of the Infrastructure Bill through parliament must be shocked by the twists and turns this Bill has taken. At an earlier stage the Bill excluded fracking in AONBs and so we thought Balcombe would be protected, then this was reversed in the Lords at the last minute. Protected areas will now be decided by a minister. Finally the definition of fracking has been now revised in such a way as to allow for high volume high pressure fracturing of shale anywhere so long as less than 2.2 million gallons (10,000 cubic metres) of fluid is used. This Bill is very bad for Balcombe, Sussex and for the rest of England. Unfortunately the parliamentary definition of fracking is now so weak that much of this Bill’s restrictions related to fracking are almost irrelevant. Except of course the part where the oil and gas Industry are granted the right of access under our homes without needing our permission. This is now law. Here is a summary of the Infrastructure Bill by Ruth Hayhurst from “Drill or Drop”. http://drillordrop.com/2015/02/12/where-are-we-now-with-the-infrastructure-bill/ “THE MEASURES’ Maximising the economic recovery of oil and gas: The Act makes it a principal objective of the government to maximise the economic recovery of UK petroleum. The secretary of state must produce strategies to meet this objective. Right of access to land: The Act gives a person the right to use deep level land to exploit petroleum or geothermal energy without the consent of the owner. The Act absolves the person who owns the land of liability for any loss or damage caused by this use of the land by someone else. Some MPs complained that they did not have the chance to vote on this section of the Bill. About 95% of people who responded to the government consultation on this measure were opposed to it. The Green Party MP, Caroline Lucas, tabled an amendment on this part but it was not voted on or discussed. Leaving substances underground: The Act allows oil and gas companies to leave land in a different condition than they found it and to leave any infrastructure or substances in the land. There was no vote on this section in the House of Commons. Impact on carbon budget: The Act requires the Secretary of State “from time to time” to ask for advice from the Committee of Climate Change on the impact of burning oil and gas extracted onshore and the impact of fugitive emissions on UK carbon target and budgets. After considering the advice, the secretary of state must produce a report and put it before parliament. Conditions for fracking: The Act says the Secretary of State must not issue a well consent unless a set of conditions are met, or he/she is satisfied that it is appropriate to issue the consent. The Act sets out documents that should be produced to satisfy the secretary of state that the condition has been met. But it says that the absence of a document does not prevent the secretary of state from being satisfied. It also says a fracking consent “may be issued subject to any conditions which the Secretary of State thinks appropriate”. The conditions cover the following: 1. Depth Fracking is prohibited at depths of less than 1,000 metres, unless the secretary of state gives consent. 2. Protected areas Fracking is prohibited in protected areas. But the definition of protected areas is to be set by the Secretary of State in regulations to be put before parliament by 31st July. The government rejected a call for fracking to be banned under protected areas. This means fracking companies could drill horizontally under national parks from just outside their boundaries. 3. Groundwater sources Fracking is to be prohibited in “protected groundwater source areas”. But again the definition is to be set by the secretary of state in regulations not required until 31st July 2015. The government rejected calls for fracking to be banned in Groundwater Source Protection Zones 13, as defined by the Environment Agency. 4. Environmental impact Planning authorities will have to take account of the “environmental impact” of fracking developments. There is no explicit requirement for an Environmental Impact Assessment. 5. Well integrity inspections The Health and Safety Executive will be required to visit the site of fracking wells. They must also provide a certificate that it has received a well notification under existing regulations. Labour’s amendment on this issue, which was rejected, specially required independent inspections of well integrity. During a debate last month, the government agreed that inspections would be unannounced. But there is nothing in the Act that requires this. 6. Methane in groundwater Methane levels in groundwater will have to be monitored for 12 months before fracking can begin. The government is proposing to allow groundwater monitoring wells to be drilled without requiring planning permission. 7. Methane in air The environmental permit for a fracking site will require monitoring of methane emissions. The government rejected Labour’s proposal for monitoring after a site has been decommissioned. There is no requirement for long term monitoring of other gases. 8. Substances The environmental regulator will have to approve substances used, or expected to be used, in fracking. 9. Cumulative effects Local planning authorities will be required to take into account the cumulative effects of an application and other fracking applications. 10. Restoration Planning authorities must consider whether to impose a restoration condition for fracking operations. 11. Water companies They must be consulted before planning permission is granted. There is no requirement for planning authorities to take action based on the advice given. 12. Informing the public Operators will have to show they have given the public notice of fracking applications. The government rejected Labour’s call for people to be notified individually. The government also rejected an amendment which required people to give consent, as well as being notified individually. 13. Community benefit A scheme must be in place to provide “financial or other benefit for the local area”. There is no reference in this condition to the scheme being funded by the operator or the industry. The definition of fracking as stated in the Infrastructure Bill: It is now considered not fracking if there are less than 10,000 cubic metres of fluid injected in total for the well. This threshold would be the equivalent of 333 lorry tankers of the largest size permitted on British roads. The flow back will be at least half of that amount, so say another 167 lorry tanker trips will be needed to truck it away for processing. So total lorry movements will be at least 500 massive tanker loads per fracked well which at 200 wells per thirty six square miles (Ineos figures) equals to a total number of 100,000 tanker movements to NOT frack thirty six square miles of Sussex countryside (these figures are based on Ineos gas well projections. It could be worse than this as the number of wells needed for oil may be more than 200 wells per block since oil does flow as readily as gas). However these numbers do not include all the other lorry movements required such as the silica sand, compressor pumps, the drilling rig, flow back storage tanks, accommodation, etc. A company could, presumably, use just less than this amount of water and it will still not be fracking (using the Infrastructure Bill definition). THE REACTION: Richard Casson, Greenpeace: “Crucially, at the 11th hour, the Bill was severely weakened by the House of Lords. Key sections were changed meaning that important regulations on the fracking industry (rules that had been put forward by the Labour Party in recent weeks) now won’t be put into place. What this means is that national parks and water sources won’t be fully protected from fracking. So while Scotland and Wales have raised clear concerns about the health and environmental impact of fracking, in England it’s full steam ahead with the dash to drill for shale gas and oil.” What can we do? Petition to WSCC. West Sussex County Council are proposing to demolish an ancient bridge between Kirdford and Wisborough Green which inconveniently is not suitable for fracking traffic (or under the new definition - non-fracking traffic). WSCC commissioned a feasibility study on Boxal Bridge in September 2014 and of the six options recommended chose number six which is to demolish the bridge. This decision was despite the two parish councils of Kirdford and Wisborough Green and many local residents opposing the demolition. A petition to WSCC to protect it can be found here. http://epetition.westsussex.public-i.tv/epetition_core/view/boxalbridge Or google “Epetition WSCC Boxal Bridge”. Please add your name – only WSCC post codes will be counted. Tessa Munt Liberal Democrat MP has also started her own Anti-fracking petition: http://www.tessamunt.org.uk/anti_fracking_petition Lancashire Fracking decision delayed, new petition: It's been a rollercoaster up in Lancashire too; two applications, to actually carry out fracking at Preston New Road and Roseacre Wood, were due to be discussed in January. On the 21st, the council’s planning officers recommended the applications should be refused, on the basis of the impact of noise at night at both sites, along with road safety issues at Roseacre Wood. Cuadrilla on the 23rd then submitted extra data and asked Lancashire County Council to delay their decision to give time to scrutinize the new information. After legal advice the Council decided to not discuss the applications and defer a decision. Public opposition is massive and this now gives you a chance to sign this petition against fracking in Lancashire if you haven't already. http://www.foe.co.uk/act/petition-stop-fracking-in-lancashire Please continue to lobby your MP, opposition parties and Lords to put a moratorium on fracking/unconventional oil and gas development, until more research is done. Labour is most likely to be moved on this, but remember, at the moment they support fracking, even if in a more regulated way. Don’t let people continue under the misunderstanding that the Infrastructure Bill is protecting us in any way from fracking. There is still time before the 30th of July to lobby MPs about the details of regulations. Climate Change March in London this Saturday 7th . The website below has the details, but this looks to be very big, please support if you can there is an anti-fracking ‘bloc’, all info available on this website. http://www.timetoact2015.org/ Good News Scotland announces moratorium on fracking! Scotland's Energy Minister Fergus Ewing announced a moratorium on fracking until a full health impact assessment and public consultation had been carried out. This is fantastic news! Scotland follows France, the Netherlands, Germany, Ireland and New York State in enacting moratoriums or bans on fracking. This moratorium would severely delay the hugely controversial plans by Dart Energy to develop Coal Bed Methane near Airth. However, it does not cover Underground Coal Gasification. It also looks as though Wales wants to follow Scotland's example, with the Welsh first minister saying he wants licensing devolved to Wales and then a moratorium considered. The tide is turning! Don’t give up talking to people about fracking. Once you start you’ll be pleasantly surprised by how many people do not support it!