UK Sets out Fracking Protections for Groundwater
Published on by Water Network Research, Official research team of The Water Network in Government
The government has set out a series of draft guidelines to protect groundwater sources from the impact of hydraulic fracturing (fracking) for shale gas
Energy minister Andrea Leadsom said: “The UK has one of the best track records in the world when it comes to protecting our environment while also developing our industries – and we’ve brought that experience to bear on the shale gas protections.”
She added that the government is still keen to follow up on the prime minister’s pledge from last year to “go all out for shale gas” despite the industry suffering the setback of having two projects rejected by Lancashire Council last month.
Leadsom added: “We need more secure, home grown energy supplies, and shale gas and oil have a vital role to play – much better that we use what we have at home than relying on supplies from volatile foreign imports.
“This industry will be developed safely with world class environmental protections, creating jobs and delivering better energy security while safeguarding of some of our most precious landscapes.”
Shadow energy secretary Caroline Flint slammed the Conservative government for “ignoring genuine and legitimate concerns” over shale gas development and for failing to protect National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty by “allowing fracking to take place underneath them”.
She added: “These regulations could lead to Britain’s most treasured areas being ringed by rigs that are allowed to frack underneath them.
Source: WWT
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- Fracking
- Groundwater Modeling
- Groundwater Pollution
- Groundwater Prospecting