Dear Madam, - The article your paper carried in your May 7 issue regarding the Public Health England [PHE] report into shale gas extraction is already out of date. That PHE report has been superseded by more recent evidence and research over the last twelve months coming out of the USA.

FFAN [Fermanagh Fracking Awareness Network] met on May 6 with the Fermanagh Omagh District Council [FODC] to raise awareness about this latest research and reports on Shale Gas extraction of hydrocarbons by the process known as High Volume Hydraulic Fracking [HVHF].

The Public Health Review by the New York State Department of Health and also the Research Compendium from the Concerned Health Professionals of New York State [both published in December 2014] show that HVHF is far from safe. Indeed the State of New York has now changed their fracking moratorium into a full ban based of their own Department of Health’s review of this latest evidence. At the launch of the review, Dr Zucker, Acting Commissioner of Health, said: “I asked myself the question ‘Would I let my family live in a community with fracking?’ The answer is No. I therefore cannot recommend any one else’s family to live in such a community either.” A very telling insight into the dangers of the HVHF put very plainly for all to understand. This Public Health Review and the subsequent banning of fracking in New York State has been criticised by a company called CDM-Smith.

We contend this same CDM-Smith company has just won the contract to carry out research into the risks of HVHF on the island of Ireland. This UGEE [Unconventional Gas Exploration and Extraction] research is being jointly funded by the northern and southern governments. It is meant to assess can HVHF be done safely based on the evidence available so far.

FFAN presented the above information to Fermanagh and Omagh District Council (FODC). The FODC has decided to write to the relevant Departments and ask for answers. Namely 1) Is the Chief Medical Officer for Northern Ireland looking at this latest research into HVHF, and if not why not? 2) Is the Department of the Environment [DoE] aware that CDM-Smith is undertaking the UGEE research and what remedial action is the DoE planning?

FFAN urge the people of Fermanagh to write and ask these same two questions as our health is too precious.

Yours faithfully, Fermanagh Fracking Awareness Network (FFAN) Dear Madam, - The article your paper carried in your May 7 issue regarding the Public Health England [PHE] report into shale gas extraction is already out of date. That PHE report has been superseded by more recent evidence and research over the last twelve months coming out of the USA.

FFAN [Fermanagh Fracking Awareness Network] met on May 6 with the Fermanagh Omagh District Council [FODC] to raise awareness about this latest research and reports on Shale Gas extraction of hydrocarbons by the process known as High Volume Hydraulic Fracking [HVHF].

The Public Health Review by the New York State Department of Health and also the Research Compendium from the Concerned Health Professionals of New York State [both published in December 2014] show that HVHF is far from safe. Indeed the State of New York has now changed their fracking moratorium into a full ban based of their own Department of Health’s review of this latest evidence. At the launch of the review, Dr Zucker, Acting Commissioner of Health, said: “I asked myself the question ‘Would I let my family live in a community with fracking?’ The answer is No. I therefore cannot recommend any one else’s family to live in such a community either.” A very telling insight into the dangers of the HVHF put very plainly for all to understand. This Public Health Review and the subsequent banning of fracking in New York State has been criticised by a company called CDM-Smith.

We contend this same CDM-Smith company has just won the contract to carry out research into the risks of HVHF on the island of Ireland. This UGEE [Unconventional Gas Exploration and Extraction] research is being jointly funded by the northern and southern governments. It is meant to assess can HVHF be done safely based on the evidence available so far.

FFAN presented the above information to Fermanagh and Omagh District Council (FODC). The FODC has decided to write to the relevant Departments and ask for answers. Namely 1) Is the Chief Medical Officer for Northern Ireland looking at this latest research into HVHF, and if not why not? 2) Is the Department of the Environment [DoE] aware that CDM-Smith is undertaking the UGEE research and what remedial action is the DoE planning?

FFAN urge the people of Fermanagh to write and ask these same two questions as our health is too precious.

Yours faithfully, Fermanagh Fracking Awareness Network (FFAN)