Reports of drinking water contamination in the US are a key factor in the fracking debate, writes LORNA SIGGINS, Western Correspondent
A US ENVIRONMENTAL Protection Agency (US EPA) study under way into the potential impacts of hydraulic fracturing or “fracking” on drinking water resources will inform future policy in Europe, an NUI Galway (NUIG) geologist has forecast.
The major study, requested by the US Congress due to “public concern”, will include research into thousands of reported instances of drinking water contamination in US states where the technique to extract gas from underground reserves is licensed.
The final report is not due until 2014, but a preliminary report issued by it last week found that compounds which were likely to be associated with fracking chemicals had been detected in the groundwater beneath Pavillion, a small community in central Wyoming.
The Wyoming community had been advised not to drink its water last year after the US EPA found low levels of hydrocarbons in wells. The Canadian Encana Corporation, which owns the Pavillion gas field, has questioned the US EPA findings.
NUIG environmental geology lecturer Dr Tiernan Henry says the US EPA’s conclusions will have a significant influence on development of shale gas extraction in Europe, including Ireland.
Minister for Energy Pat Rabbitte has recently asked the EPA here to research the environmental dimension of fracking, which involves injecting large volumes of water, chemicals and sand into rock formations to break them open and extract previously inaccessible fossil fuel deposits, such as gas.
Mr Rabbitte’s department has already licensed three companies – the Australian-based Tamboran Resources, Lough Allen Natural Gas Company (Langco) and Enegi Oil Plc to explore for onshore gas in the northwest carboniferous/Lough Allen and Clare basin areas.
The two basins straddle 8,000sq km over parts of counties Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Mayo, Monaghan, Roscommon, Sligo, along with Fermanagh across the Border, and parts of counties Clare, Cork, Limerick and Kerry.
Mr Rabbitte has pointed out that he has not yet licensed fracking, which would, he says, be subject to environmental impact assessment and public consultation.
Any licensing decision would also be bound by assessment of the EPA findings.
However, supporters of the No Fracking Ireland network in the northwest have questioned the independence of the EPA study. They say that scoping work for some initial EPA research on the technique involved the University of Aberdeen which has close links with the oil and gas industry.
Leah Doherty, of the Ardcarne Community Against Fracking in north Roscommon, also points out that fracking may start on a test basis as early as 2013 in the Republic – as stated publicly by one of the licensed companies.
She points to bans on the procedure in France, parts of Canada, parts of Germany and several states in the US. She welcomed last month’s unanimous vote for a ban by Roscommon County Council, and this month’s vote for a five-year moratorium by Leitrim County Council.
Last week, the Northern Ireland Assembly also voted on a Green Party/Alliance motion calling for a moratorium.
The motion was opposed by the Democratic Unionist Party, with Ulster Unionist Party members abstaining.
The Stormont Assembly motion stated that “the process of fracking can cause serious well blowouts, which put both workers and local communities at risk; considers that the production of hard-to-reach fossil fuels is not compatible with efforts to achieve carbon reduction targets; and urges the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to give greater support to the generation of energy from renewable sources.”
Dr Henry of NUIG says that key reference points for the EPA work here will include a recently published British report which found that it was “highly probable” that fracking caused earth tremors in Lancashire last April.
Existing mining laws in Europe do not cover fracking and in many cases “mining rights” take precedence over “citizens’ rights”, according to another report published last June by the European Parliament’s environment, public health and food safety committee.
It recommended that the EU water framework directive should be re-assessed to take account of fracking, and it said that a ban on use of toxic chemicals in the controversial technique should be considered.
Helmut Fehr, a German Green councillor and geoscientist who addressed community groups in Leitrim on the issue several months ago, believes that the EU “needs to make its mind up on fracking”.
Fracking all you need to know
What is it?
Fracking is a technique to extract gas from underground
What does it involve?
It involves injecting large volumes of water, chemicals and sand into rock formations to break them open and extract previously inaccessible fossil fuel deposits, such as gas.
Why is it controversial?
There are concerns that it could cause water contamination and earth tremors. However, in the US, where it has already been licensed, it is a welcome source of income for many landowners
Why is it in the news in Ireland?
Three companies have been licensed to explore for onshore gas in the Lough Allen and Clare basin areas. The two basins cover parts of 12 counties north and south of the Border, namely Leitrim, Roscommon, Mayo, Sligo, Donegal, Cavan, Monaghan, Clare, Limerick, Cork, Kerry and Fermanagh.
Opposition groups believe fracking may start on a “test” basis as early as 2013.
Tomorrow
Tamboran Resources is confident of finding commericially viable gas reserves in the northwest, but opinion on fracking is divided in one of the areas affected, Co Leitrim