CIWEM – An independent review of shale gas extraction in the UK and the implications for the water environment

In 2014 CIWEM published a review of the implications of shale gas on the water environment with ten recommendations for action. Although exploration has not progressed in the UK during this time, there have been considerable developments in legislation, policy and regulation.

This report provides an update for 2016, reviewing the latest publicly available evidence to assess the likely viability, scale and timing of shale gas exploitation in the UK. It then considers if an industry of any significant scale were to develop, what the implications of hydraulic fracturing of shale would be for water resources, water treatment and the water environment. The report also considers the suitability of the current and expected future regulatory requirements for mitigating the industry’s potential impacts on the environment.

The Government undermine local planning exactly the opposite of their stance on onshore wind to promote fracking http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/earth/energy/fracking/12130801/Ministers-plot-to-foil-anti-frackers.html  The leaked letter https://www.foe.co.uk/news/leaked-letter-shows-government-plans-force-fracking-communities Leaked letter shows government plans to force fracking on communities.

Tony Bosworth 15 February 2016  Friends of the Earth

What colour do you want the gates to your local shale gas site? That could be the limit of local people’s input to decisions about shale gas production, according to a letter leaked to Friends of the Earth. The letter reveals that the government is planning to take decision-making away from local councils.  The letter was written by Energy Secretary Amber Rudd, Communities Secretary Greg Clark and Environment Secretary Liz Truss to George Osborne last July. It sets out proposals for a government shale gas strategy. The ministers say they want “a maturing shale gas production industry” within 10 years. Among the proposals to make this happen is changing who would take decisions about planning permission for shale gas production.

Pity about the price of oil.

Figures reveal that 78 per cent of the public support the use of renewables, according to a tracking survey by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (Decc).

The survey was conducted over three years and final figures were collected in December 2015. Public support for renewables has been consistently high since the survey began in 2012, and by December last year, only one per cent of respondents were strongly opposed. Responding to the survey, chief executive of renewable energy company Good Energy, Juliet Davenport, said: “The message from the British public is loud and clear. 78 per cent of us back renewables for our energy – people want to see a transition to a renewable future here in the UK. “Just a few weeks ago in Paris, world leaders agreed to ambitious plans to reduce carbon emissions. The government needs to listen to public support, take the lead in seizing new opportunities and keep us on the path to decarbonisation.”

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