France - MP Pascal Terrasse - response to reinstatement of Total permits

In 2011 it was Ardeche deputé PASCAL TERRASSE who tirelessly pressed the (then) Sarkozy government to legislate against fracking. This pressure resulted in the 'loi Jacob' a much diluted affair and full of loopholes. These loopholes have current implications. 

In 2017 France will elect a new President. All candidates (assuming no President Hollande ) are likely to be in favour of fracking. The implications are obvious. Ed.                



PRESS RELEASE - PERMIT MONTELIMAR "PASCAL TERRACE RALLIES AGAINST SHALE GAS AND HYDRAULIC FRACTURING"

PRESS RELEASE - January 28, 2016
SHALE GAS: THE ADMINISTRATIVE TRIBUNAL OF Cergy Pontoise CANCELS THE REPEAL OF PERMIT MONTELIMAR
Pascal TERRASSE
Member of the Ardèche
County Council

 "PASCAL TERRACE - AGAINST SHALE GAS AND HYDRAULIC FRACTURING"
The Cergy-Pontoise Administrative Court today issued its decision on the legality of the revocation of shale gas exploration permit called "Montelimar permit", detained since March 2010 by Total, and then repealed in October 2011 the adoption of the law prohibiting hydraulic fracturing.
The Tribunal, which reported the end of December a decision confirming the repeal of license (Scheupbach ) Villeneuve-de-Berg, has this time rescinded the repeal of Montelimar permit, which covers an area of ​​over 4 700 km² and five departments, including the Ardeche.
Pascal Terrace, Ardèche MP: "If the courts exploits loopholes in the previous legislation which I denounced at the time, we must now restart legislation. With my parliamentary colleagues who fight against shale gas, I support the proposed new legislation, clearer and more secure, to permanently ban exploration and exploitation of shale gas. "

He concluded: "The 130 applications for permits and thirty renewal applications must all be rejected. All exploration project and gas exploitation and oil shale and other unconventional hydrocarbons must now be prohibited. I remain mobilized, as a large majority of the Ardèche, against shale gas. "

NB Rough translation from the French.

France - Total win Montelimar appeal

The administrative court of Cergy-Pontoise have today ruled in favour of Messrs Total in respect of the permits initially cancelled following the introduction of the anti-fracking law 'loi Jacob' in July of 2011. The company are permitted to pursue 'exploration' and refer to 'alternative methods'. Clearly the law, which was reluctantly introduced by the Sarkozy government and diluted somewhat at the last minute did not exclude all possibilities. The permis in question are referred to as the Montelimar permits.

France - The prospect of fracking has not gone away.

Editorial

We have long asserted that the industry would bide its time waiting patiently until a change of government occurred ( ie 2017 ) and all the while protesting that it would only use 'alternative methods' in order to 'explore and establish' the riches ( sic ) underground here in France.

Whilst Messrs Scheupbach failed to convince the judges in Cergy-Pontoise Administrative Court of the legitimacy of their appeal against the cancellation of permits  issued in the Montelimar region, Messrs Total look all set to convince the same court of the legitimacy of their claim. In anticipation of this and almost six years to the day after the huge mobilization of 20,000 people on Saturday 26th February the collective 'Les gaz et huiles de schiste, ni ici ailleurs, ni aujourd'hui, ni demain' have scheduled a day of demonstrations on February 28th at Barjac ( Gard ).

This thing ( in spite of the still falling price of oil, and in spite of COP 21 ) is still far from over.

We remain vigilant.

France - Total policy on Montelimar.

Total have now announced that they will not push through/ahead with shale gas exploration 'if it is against the wishes of society or without government approval'. Read the statement by CEO Patrick Pouyanné here ( in French - perhaps use Google Translate if necessary )......................

http://www.europe1.fr/economie/total-ne-passera-pas-en-force-sur-le-gaz-de-schiste-2652859

France - Total all set to regain it's Motelimar permits.

Total would apear to be playing the long game. They would seem to have every chance of regaining their former permits to 'explore' for gas under the Montelimar permis ( Drôme, Ardeche, Herault, Gard and Vaucluse ) after making submissions to the administrative court of cergy-Pontoise whilst acknowledging that they have 'not yet' developed alternatives to hydraulic fracturing. They will of course be mindful that none of those likely to run for President in 2017 are likley to oppose fracking.

Meanwhile the collectifs are newly alerted and a day of action will take place on February 28th at Barjac in the Gard organised by Collectif 07 'Stop Gaz de Schiste'.

US - Fracking related methane leak - biggest in history (California).

Imagine a methane leak ( the result of flawed storage of fracked, so called 'natural gas' ) so big that it equates to the emissions from 2.2 million cows in one day, driving over 4.5 million cars in one day and the emissions of six coal-powered plants/stations - in one day.

Read the report and watch the video here: https://www.earthworksaction.org/earthblog/detail/porter_ranch_gas_leak_spells_climate_disaster?gclid=CPGxlNiIs8oCFRW3GwodbzIK0g#.VpyzEVLfJXo

Apparently, there are over 400 ancient storage sites across the USA where this could happen.

US - Fracking operation causes huge fire, Grady County

Fire reported 14th January 2016.

Imagine this in the UK with it's 'strong regulatory framework' (sic).

Watch the blaze here:-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lhx8yB3Dk2I

Not the first, nor will it be the last. Ed