Presenting the facts, not scare-mongering

Editorial Department • Published 20 Oct 2011 13:00 Comments 1 Comment

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Dear Sir, - Fermanagh Facking Awareness Network, would like to respond to an article in your paper of 6th October 2011 'MLAs in exchange over gas fracking project' in which you reported on an exchange between two local MLA's in Stormont where attempts to raise awareness about the process of shale gas extraction (commonly known as fracking) were described as 'quite shameful' and that the suggestion of 'fracking' happening in Fermanagh was both 'premature' and 'scaremongering'

We would like to remind your readers that the first public meeting held in Co Fermanagh about 'fracking' was held on 6th September 2011 by Tamboran Resources Pty Ltd (Tamboran). Tamboran were supported by government officials at the meeting where they made a presentation entitled 'Introduction to the possible future Shale Gas Project Co Fermanagh'. The tone of this presentation indicated that Tamboran would be 'fracking' in Fermanagh. Was this the 'scaremongering' that was being referred to?

The Fermanagh Fracking Awareness Network was established as a result of concerns arising from that meeting in the Westville Hotel. We fail to see how trying to open a debate on the potential for fracking in Fermanagh or, how presenting factual arguments for and against this process in an open and transparent manner can be considered to be 'scaremongering', 'quite shameful' or 'premature'. Facts are facts!

Fact - on 1st April this year DETI issued four x five-year exploration licence for shale gas extraction in NI

Fact - these licenses have been issued without any public consultation

Fact - the license for the Fermanagh area has been awarded to Tamboran Resources Pty Ltd an Australian Company formed in 2009 whose strap line is 'global unconventional oil and gas exploration and development'.

Fact - the license awarded cover 750Sq Kilometres of West Fermanagh. An area which stretches from Derrylin to Kesh, taking in all areas in between - Derrylin, Teemore, Florcecourt, Marlbank, Belcoo, Cashel, Garrison, Belleek, Boa Island, and Kesh - the area covered by the licence for exploration surrounds Lough Melvin and Upper and Lower Lough Macnean.

Fact - the awarding of these licences bring huge financial benefits to Tamboran, who are not locally based

Fact - Tamboran have announced their intention to enter the public market in 2012

Fact - previous exploration has taken place in the County but it was not considered economically viable to extract the gas using conventional technology existing at the time.

Fact - fracking is an extremely controversial process it has been banned in many EU countries pending further research including France and Germany. It has also been banned in some American states and in parts of Canada. The Labour party in Republic of Ireland (coalition partners in the government) have initiated a review of fracking there.

Fact - according to their website Tamboran anticipate 100 wellpads in Fermanagh each hosting 8 -16 drill wells

Fact - according to the Tamboran website a 16-drill wellpad would cover an area of 9 acres above ground which represents less than 0.8% of the developed underground area.

Fact - there will be a temporary boom for some industries eg quarries and engineering companies

Fact - some landowners may make money by leasing land to the gas companies

Fact - no studies have been done to indicate how it will impact on the security of existing jobs in tourism, agriculture or the agri-food industry

Fact -no studies have been undertaken to access the impact on human health, animal health, the environment or the local economy of shale gas exploration or extraction

Fact - there are a number of lawsuits on-going in America where people who live in areas where fracking has occurred are suing the companies around issues of water contamination, loss of property value, noise pollution and air pollution.

Fact - shale gas is not a renewable source of energy

Shale Gas exploration and extraction - fracking - is something which should concern all our politicians both at local Council and Assembly level. What we are asking is that any movement on this exploration process is halted until we can make a more informed decision about it value. If our Politicians, are confident that the exploration and extraction of shale gas will be of immense value to Fermanagh and to NI in general then they need have no fear of postponing the exploration work while they address the very real concerns of the local communities. However chasing fossil fuels in an area that is ripe for renewable energy seems bizarre.

We need leadership from our politicians. We believe this is a very important issue which will impact on the whole county not just West Fermanagh.

Fermanagh Fracking Awareness Network (FFEN) is a collection of people who represent a number of groups which are springing up around the County. Members are young and old, male and female, from a range of socio-economic and religious backgrounds, Fermanagh natives and people who have come to live here.

Meetings will be held in Florencecourt on Wednesday 26th October and in Cashel on 8th November with further meetings in Derrygonnelly, Derrylin, Garrison and Belleek to be confirmed.

You can also find out more on www.frackaware.com

Yours faithfully,

Fermanagh Fracking Awareness Network.

This letter appeared in Impartial Reporter 20 Oct 11

Have your say. Post a comment on this article.

marymorton
1 post
Nov 5, 01:57
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The Impartial Reporter seems somewhat of a misnomer given that it has taken a letter from a local interest group to present a balanced summary of hydraulic fracking.

A report published this week assesses the impact of fracking in Lancashire, England and has at least made national news in the UK. The Geo-mechanical Study of Bowland Shale Seismicity was commissioned by Cuadrilla Resources following the unusual seismic activity in the vicinity of their Preese Hall-1 well in Lancashire’s (earthquakes of magnitude 2.3 on April 1st and 1.5 on May 27th 2011).

The report concludes that it is highly probable that hydraulic fracking triggered the recorded seismic events. This, the report states, was due to an unusual combination of factors: the specific geology of the well site coupled with pressure exerted by water injection.

I am not all that reassured that the geology of Fermanagh significantly reduces the risk of water contamination from the fracture created by the drilling nor from seepage from the well itself.

Some genuinely 'impartial' reporting would be welcomed!!

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