Engineering news
Fracking should be overseen by a new set of regulations and there is “clear evidence” that the shale gas process can contaminate drinking water, pressure group Scientists for Global Responsibility has said.
Dr Stuart Parkinson, executive director of SGR, said evidence from Pennsylvania in the US showed contamination of drinking water had sometimes taken place 1km from wells where fracking was taking place.
Parkinson, co-author of a report on current shale gas extraction issues with the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH), said that in the UK a more fractured geology could lead to small earthquakes when fracking takes place, potentially contaminating more of the water table. “Here there is higher population density and people are going to be closer to the fracking wells.”
He said evidence of contamination was being “downplayed”, but admitted: “The kind of clear evidence that links fracking with contamination of an aquifer is harder to come by."
Parkinson warned that regulators in the UK were resource-constrained. “The Health and Safety Executive and Environment Agency are having their resources cut and are having to cope with a new process.” He said it was a mistake to expect firms reporting their own problems to be an adequate means of regulation. “That will be another source of problems, and another reason why regulation won't be as good as it really ought to be.”
SGR does not believe that fracking will significantly reduce gas prices in the UK. It said there was a “complete lack of evidence” that shale gas exploitation will bring down energy bills.
The organisation's report also says that, despite claims to the contrary, evidence of local environmental contamination from shale gas exploitation is well-reported in the scientific literature. Even with strong regulation, the safety of fracking for the UK is in doubt, SGR said.
CIEH chief executive, Graham Jukes, said: "The CIEH has consistently made the case for a full independent environmental impact assessment to be carried out on all shale gas extraction proposals before permission to drill is given.
"In the enthusiasm to exploit new sources of energy, we must assess and ensure that there are no unacceptable adverse impacts on the environment or on the health of people in the communities surrounding extraction sites. Despite central government encouragement for the process, local authorities should resist allowing shale gas extraction in their areas until they are satisfied on that point.
“We believe that there is currently insufficient evidence provide such assurance for proposals in the UK and the precautionary principle should apply."
Parkinson added: "The evidence we have gathered shows that exploiting yet another new source of fossil fuels – such as UK shale gas – is likely to further undermine efforts to tackle climate change. We need to focus on low carbon energy sources, especially renewables, together with concerted efforts to save energy."