Wednesday 29 February 2012

Reassurance from Brussels - yeh!

After almost six months I have received a reply to my letter to the Head of Unit - Enforcement, Infringements co-ordination and legal issues at the European Commission in Brussels concerning due process in the event of shale gas exploration in France and the fact that currently the EU is of the view that a tightening of regulations is unnecessary.

'The Commision considers that shale gas exploration and exploitation projects fall under the Directive 2011/92/EU on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment. It implies that, before a shale gas exploration or exploitation project comes to life, the operator has to assess the likely significant environmental impacts (e.g. upon nature, water resources, landscape ) of the project. It would also imply that the operator would not be able to start a project without obtaining a permit. In the framework of the development consent procedure, the public and environmental authorities must be given the right to express opinions on the permit request and to get access to the decision to grant or not a permit. Those opinions should be taken into account by the competent authority in the development consent procedure. In cases where a permit is granted to an operator for a shale gas exploration/exploitation project, members of the "public concerned", including NGOs, will be entitled to challenge at the national level the legality of the decision. This position was communicated to France by letter of 12th December 2011'.

So that's all right then!

DN-A.

Wednesday 15 February 2012

Wild estimates of likely gas supplies - we are not surprised!

As we have long suspected, industry estimates of likely shale gas deposits in the US and in European fields now appear to have been wildly exaggerated no doubt to impress gullible politicians and investors. A hint of the scale of this sham ( scam? ) may be gleaned from here:

The latest issue of LeFortySix Magazine (www.lefortysix.fr) is published today and carries an article by one of our team entitled: Gaz de Schiste - WATER - a perspective. Click the link below or go to page 12 of the hard copy available here.

Almost one year now to the day when the deceit first emerged here in France. We confidentally predict that reactions will be even more pronounced this time around.

Wednesday 8 February 2012

New petition to the EU. Please sign, it only takes a minute

The EU seem to think there is no need to strengthen the law on shale gas exploitation. This is mainly because they are tempted by the promise of 'cheap' gas and how popular it will make them to the voters. We know it will not be cheap in any sense and is just a line promoted by the gas companies who are only interested in the massive profits that fracking will generate.

The only thing that will persuade the EU to do the right thing is public pressure. There is a new petition urging the EU to reconsider their naieve attitude to shale gas in Europe. Please sign it - it will only take a minute.

It is available in a number of languages - you only need to sign one of them :-)

ENGLISH: http://www.petitions24.net/appel_a_un_consensus_europeen_en


FRENCH: http://www.petitions24.net/appel_a_un_consensus_europeen_fr

SPANISH: http://www.petitions24.net/appel_a_un_consensus_europeen_esp

POLISH: http://www.petitions24.net/appel_a_un_consensus_europeen_pol

BULGARIAN: http://www.petitions24.net/appel_a_un_consensus_europeen_bulg

Thanks

The Schiste Happens Information Team
(tee hee...)

Thursday 2 February 2012

Josh Fox illegally excluded from Congressional hearing!

GASLANDS producer Josh Fox without whom few of us would ever have heard of the abomination known as hydraulic fracking was yesterday excluded along with representatives of ABC News from the Congressional hearing into the EPA findings
( reported here in a recent blog ) in Pavilion, Wyoming where it is confirmed that groundwater has been contaminated. Republican representatives moved to exclude Fox who was acting within his rights as set out in the First Amendment of the American Constitution. The meeting was an 'open' public meeting - but apparently not for Fox. Perhaps he should have said that he was from Fox News!! Capitol Hill spokesman suggested that JF gained access 'illegally'. Can you imagine gaining access to such a place illegally? The mind boggles.

Either way, Fox is perhaps no fool. He is better known than any faceless politician seeking to hide the truth and the You Tube clip ( enter Josh Fox - arrest ) has every chance of going 'viral'.

First Amendment: " Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of people peacably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."  Or have we entered a new era?

Wednesday 1 February 2012

Sample letter to EU Commissioners in English

If you wish to communicate your amazement and disgust at the 'ducking out' of the EU Commisioners in relation to a possible strengthening of regulations relating to shale gas exploitation, please click the following link which will take you to the relevant page on this site:-

http://www.schistehappens.com/documents.html