Comiskey welcomes Minister’s commitment on hydraulic fracturing

Applications will not be considered until after EPA report

Fine Gael Sligo/Leitrim Senator and Seanad Spokesperson on Agriculture, Food and the Marine Michael Comiskey today (Tuesday) welcomed renewed confirmation by Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Fergus O’Dowd, that applications for exploration licences proposing the use of hydraulic fracturing will be subject to an environmental impact assessment.  

The renewed commitment comes after applications for onshore exploration licences were received from two of the three companies previously granted onshore licensing options in February 2011 over parts of the North West Carboniferous Basin and parts of the Clare Basin.

“Once again this is a strong commitment from Minister O’Dowd that all applications for exploration licences proposing the use of hydraulic fracturing as part of an unconventional gas exploration programme will not be considered until an extensive an environmental impact assessment has been carried out.

“This environmental impact assessment will take into account the findings of a research programme to be carried out by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and no decision will be made until there has been time to consider the outcome of this EPA research.

“Public consultation was invited from interested parties on the terms of reference for the EPA research.   I have made submissions to the EPA and the relevant Government Departments advocating that the research programme must include an assessment of the impact of hydraulic fracturing in exploration drilling upon human and animal health.   The final results of this study are not expected until 2015.

“The EPA has been afforded a lengthy timeframe in which to carry out a complete study on all aspects of hydraulic fracturing.   This further commitment from Minister O’Dowd demonstrates that a comprehensive evaluation of the impact of hydraulic fracturing is a key priority and will be the eventual basis of any policy formation in this area.”