AGL, Transpacific probed over fracking water discharges AGL has become mired in fresh controversy over its coal seam gas activities near Gloucester after a contractor shipped untreated waste water to the Hunter region despite explicit rejection of the plan from the local water authority. AGL said Transpacific Industries transported 600,000 litres of so-called flowback water from its four pilot CSG wells to a facility at Kooragang Island, near Newcastle. The Transpacific plant has the relevant environment protection licence, AGL says. The flowback water – which contains chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing or fracking for CSG - was then treated before being discharged into Hunter Waters sewer network. Hunter Water, though, said it had launched an investigation after rejecting in writing and verbally any shipment of flowback water. Fairfax Media has copies of two such letters to AGL in February and September 30 last year, the latter of which told AGL that Hunter Water is not to be approached as a potential disposal source for groundwater from the Gloucester Gas Project. The agency said it also told AGL as standard policy it does not accept any wastewater from outside its region, regardless of how it was treated. Hunter Water was alerted to the discharge by reports in the Newcastle Herald last month. Anti-CSG activists were also a trigger after vigilant protesters followed two Transpacific tankers from Gloucester all the way to Newcastle in early December. Katrina Pearson said she trailed the first convoy, often driving at high-speed on country roads to keep up. I was absolutely flat out, the former business analyst and Taree resident said. I had my ears pinned back keeping up as they were doing over 100km/h in places. As part of its probe, Hunter Water demanded Transpacific reveal all its discharges for last year and part of 2013. The data was handed over on Thursday. Hunter Water will meet with Transpacific once its investigation is concluded and retains its right to suspend or terminate the trade waste agreement should Transpacific be unable to commit to the conditions attached to it, Jeremy Bath, group manager for public affairs, said. The NSW EPA has also asked Hunter Water to forward the data by January 19 as part of its own investigations into Transpacific for an alleged breach. It is yet to start regulatory action against AGL or Transpacific over the flowback water. The NSW EPA has written to AGL to express its concerns and ask for confirmation that the company has appropriate arrangements in place to ensure its flowback water is disposed of lawfully, an EPA spokeswoman said. If either company is found to have acted illegally the EPA will consider regulatory action. ... more at link ... smh.au/environment/agl-transpacific-probed-over-fracking-water-discharges-20150109-12jzcz.html
Posted on: Fri, 09 Jan 2015 07:37:52 +0000
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