Green light for Roseacre Wood shale site
6 Feb 2015
Shale gas firm Cuadrilla has today been granted the environmental permits it needs to carry out exploration at a site in Blackpool, Lancashire.
The Environment Agency, which in January approved permits for Cuadrilla’s other Blackpool site at Preston New Road, has given the shale gas developer permission to drill, hydraulically fracture and test gas flows at its Roseacre Wood site.
However, both sites are currently awaiting planning permission after Lancashire County Council deferred its decision on Cuadrilla’s applications to allow the developer time to address concerns regarding traffic and noise pollution.
Cuadrilla initially announced plans to drill at Roseacre Wood and Preston New Road in February 2014.
Our operations will be carried out responsibly
Cuadrilla CEO Francis Egan
The company’s chief executive officer Francis Egan said: “We are pleased that the Environment Agency has granted our permits for our proposed exploration site at Roseacre Wood which follows the approval for permits at our other proposed site at Preston New Road.
“Following such a rigorous review and public consultation of all of our permit applications by the regulator, this unequivocally demonstrates that, as we have committed, our proposed exploratory operations will be carried out responsibly ensuring the local environment is protected.”
The permits set out the requirements Cuadrilla must meet to protect groundwater, surface water and air quality and to ensure the safe storage, management and disposal of wastes, The Environment Agency said.
Steve Molyneux, environment manager for Lancashire, said: “I am confident that the strict controls set out in the permits to manage waste, safe flaring of gas and conditions to safeguard local water resources will ensure that people and the environment remain protected.”
Environmental campaigners reacted to today’s announcement by suggesting Lancashire could become the UK’s “fracking guinea pig”.
Friends of the Earth North West campaigner Helen Rimmer said: “These permits will need serious scrutiny because of the high environmental risks of fracking including air pollution, climate change and the creation of huge amounts of toxic wastewater.
“Ultimately it is for elected Councillors to decide whether Lancashire becomes the UK’s fracking guinea pig. With clear local opposition to the plans, the County Council should listen to communities and follow the example of Wales and Scotland by rejecting deeply unpopular fracking.”
Last week, MPs rejected calls for an outright ban on shale gas development, although projects will no longer be allowed in protected areas such as national parks.
In addition, a Labour Party amendment requiring all shale gas projects to pass 13 tests was successfully added to the Infrastructure Bill. These tests include monitoring of a site for 12 months prior to any hydraulic fracturing activity, and independent well integrity inspections.
