Read the BBC report here: http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-35193788
The DCLG said: "The government considers that it is important to
obtain seismic data to inform any potential proposals for petroleum
exploration, and it would be beneficial to be able to do this early in
the process.
"Having carefully considered the views expressed in
response to consultation and the potential impacts, the government
considers that it is appropriate to proceed with this proposal."
Was this written by a (Tory ) robot? Ed.
Wednesday, 13 January 2016
Tuesday, 12 January 2016
UK-Fracking safe? Insurance companies don’t think so.
Letter to David Cameron from Keith Lindsay-Cameron (Somerset).
A letter a day to Number 10 Downing Street - No 1,312
Monday 11 January 2016.
Dear Mr Cameron,
Fracking safe? Insurance companies don't think so.
I think you need to have a word with UK insurance companies. It seems they do not share your confidence that fracking is safe. Two thirds of UK insurers will not insure against fracking damage which could include contaminated water in areas prone to flooding and groundwater contamination. Fracking in areas prone to flood? The very idea is insane.
Whatever evidence you have on how safe fracking is, clearly insurance companies have either not seen it or they don’t believe it and consider fracking a considerable risk. I appreciate that insurance companies are risk averse, they are, after all, not in the business to lose money, but if fracking is so safe, why is the insurance money market not accepting that fracking is low risk?
The amount of fracking fluid left in the ground varies, reportedly it can be from 5 and 90 percent. It should hardly need saying that flood victims do not want fracking toxic waste added to the toxicity of flood waters.
Of course if insurance companies are not prepared to cover fracking risks there are no prizes for guessing who will have to pick up the bill for the clean-up operations – the great British public cash cow.
Given the cuts in flood defences it is looking more and more cynically as if flooding is just another transfer of public wealth into private hands thus adding to the shrinking state, money that would have benefited all were it invested in flood protection is siphoned into massively expensive clean up operations in areas where flooding could have been entirely prevented.
And, of course, no amount of money can begin to cover the personal trauma and distress of those whose lives are devastated by flooding, including the loss of any very personal and precious family mementos.
There have already been earthquakes related to fracking in the UK, and whilst they were fairly low magnitude, typical of earthquakes in the UK, that does not excuse exposing people to such additional risks. Oklahoma, a major fracking area in the US, which historically experiences 2 earthquakes a year above level 3 on the Richter scale, experienced 585 such quakes in 2014 and 842 in 2015.
It was Franklin D. Roosevelt who said, “In politics, nothing happens by accident. If it happens, you can bet it was planned that way.” That very much has to include preventable disasters from flooding and fracking.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/householders-affected-by-floods-face-insurance-double-whammy-if-they-live-nearby-planned-fracking-a6804476.html#gallery
http://www.shalereporter.com/resources/faq/drilling/article_847ccaac-340b-11e2-b288-001a4bcf6878.html
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/jan/02/tory-cuts-wrecking-uk-flood-defences
https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn21120-how-fracking-caused-earthquakes-in-the-uk/
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/jan/10/fracking-earthquakes-oklahoma-colorado-gas-companies
Well done Sir. Of course, here at Schiste Towers we have made this point many times in the past and can only assume that the UK government are simply in it for the money. Surely not? Ed
https://creatorsnotconsumers.wordpress.com
Sunday, 10 January 2016
Oklahoma hit with 70 quakes in a week - from USA TODAY
A swarm of more than 70 small earthquakes has rattled Oklahoma in the
past week, raising concerns that the state’s quake problem is getting
worse.
The largest quake measured magnitude-4.8 and struck around midnight Wednesday near the town of Fairview. No significant damage has been reported, although it shook pictures and crockery.
“It was felt all over the county, pretty much all over the state,” Major County Undersherrif Darin Reams said. "This one rattled a little bit.”
Smaller quakes continued Thursday.
Oklahoma in 2014 had at least 5,415 earthquakes; 585 of them were magnitude-3 or greater. In comparison, the state had just 109 magnitude-3 quakes in 2013, according to the Oklahoma Geologic Survey. Statistics for 2015 are still being compiled.
A state report last year noted a connection between hydraulic fracturing and some earthquake "swarms," and state officials say there's a potential risk to the public due to the increase in quakes. Experts say the quakes are likely being caused by injection wells, which are particularly deep wells into which drilling byproducts and wastewater are injected, rather than wells drilled to extract oil or gas.
Read the full report here: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2016/01/07/small-earthquakes-shaking-oklahoma-blamed-deep-injection-wells/78421444/
Of course, it could never happen in the UK ( or France ) - could it? Ed.
The largest quake measured magnitude-4.8 and struck around midnight Wednesday near the town of Fairview. No significant damage has been reported, although it shook pictures and crockery.
“It was felt all over the county, pretty much all over the state,” Major County Undersherrif Darin Reams said. "This one rattled a little bit.”
Smaller quakes continued Thursday.
Oklahoma in 2014 had at least 5,415 earthquakes; 585 of them were magnitude-3 or greater. In comparison, the state had just 109 magnitude-3 quakes in 2013, according to the Oklahoma Geologic Survey. Statistics for 2015 are still being compiled.
A state report last year noted a connection between hydraulic fracturing and some earthquake "swarms," and state officials say there's a potential risk to the public due to the increase in quakes. Experts say the quakes are likely being caused by injection wells, which are particularly deep wells into which drilling byproducts and wastewater are injected, rather than wells drilled to extract oil or gas.
Read the full report here: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2016/01/07/small-earthquakes-shaking-oklahoma-blamed-deep-injection-wells/78421444/
Of course, it could never happen in the UK ( or France ) - could it? Ed.
Friday, 8 January 2016
New York State: The People Win Over Shell in Fracking Water Withdrawal Case
Hard to imagine but it would appear to be true. Ed
Read the report here: http://ecowatch.com/2016/01/07/people-win-over-shell/
Read the report here: http://ecowatch.com/2016/01/07/people-win-over-shell/
Tuesday, 5 January 2016
Renewable Energy Soars Amid Plummeting Fossil Fuel Prices
Is there something that the UK government is missing we wonder? Ed.
http://ecowatch.com/2016/01/04/renewable-energy-soars/
http://ecowatch.com/2016/01/04/renewable-energy-soars/
Monday, 4 January 2016
UK - High levels of contamination found at Barton Moss frack site.
Lawyers defending protestors have revealed high levels of contamination on and in close proxility to the Barton Moss frack site. Read the following report. Bet you won't find this in the Sunday Times, D.Mail,T'Graph etc.Ed.
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/barton-moss-fracking-high-levels-8791016
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