Campaigners welcome Scottish Government seeking research from abroad but urge more speed on anti-fracking moves
THE ENVIRONMENTAL campaign group Friends of the Earth Scotland (FoES) has urged the Scottish Government to speed up its fracking consultation process, as it examines the latest fracking research from the US Congress.
The new research from the US confirms that fracking has resulted in water contamination.
The report by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), authorised by Congress and considered the most extensive study into fracking consequnces in the US yet, concluded that fracking was a threat to the US water supply.
“In those studies, international experience like those in the US and this report are considered and referenced.” Scottish Government
Mary Church, head of campaigns for FoES told CommonSpace: “This EPA report is a vindication for communities and campaigners who have forced politicians and regulators to take their concerns on water pollution seriously. Those living close to fracking operations around the world have been sounding the alarm on this industry for years.
“Evidence just keeps piling up of the harm fracking causes, with Ireland and the Australian state of Victoria announcing new laws banning the technology and in the UK public support for fracking is at its lowest ever level. The risks of fracking – water, air and climate pollution – are just too great. The Scottish Government need to get moving with its moratorium process and give people the chance to deliver a resounding no to fracking.”
In the findings, the EPA stated that hydraulic drilling had released methane into water supplies in urban and rural neighbourhoods.
The exploration of the Scottish Government into the EPA report follows the first shipment of a US fracked gas, owned by energy giant Ineos, at Grangemouth in September this year. In Scotland, such imports are supported by bodies including the GMB union and the Scottish Conservatives but opposed by the Scottish Greens. The Scottish Government received criticism from the chief executive and chairman of Ineos, Jim Ratcliffe, for not being “more open” to importing US fracked gas products, given the government’s moratorium on fracking in Scotland.
“The Scottish Government need to get moving with its moratorium process and give people the chance to deliver a resounding no to fracking.” Mary Church
Speaking to CommonSpace, spokesperson for the Scottish Government said: “We can confirm that the consultation is anchored around the research studies we published a month ago but we are still effectively consulting on this research. We can’t confirm a conclusion date for a decision.
“In those studies, international experience like those in the US and this report are considered and referenced.”
The government would not be drawn on how the consultation had progressed beyond the collection of evidence. It’s decision on whether to allow fracking after its current moratorium will be made by the second half of 2017.
“This EPA report is a vindication for communities and campaigners who have forced politicians and regulators to take their concerns on water pollution seriously.” Mary Church
Campaigners and political figures in the US have expressed grave concerns about the stance of President-elect Donald Trump on fracking. These fears were enhanced by appointments to his cabinet such as former ExxonMobil chairman Rex Tillerson, who will lead the state department and Scott Pruitt, who will run the environmental agency, despite both men being climate change deniers.
Church said: “The research conducted for the Scottish Government shows that fracking can pose a serious threat to public health and to the climate. It is utterly irresponsible to open up a new frontier of fossil fuels when we need to cut our emissions rapidly.”
Picture courtesy of Day Donaldson
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