So I contacted local MSPs about fracking and got this reply from one. Thank you for your e-mail, the contents of which I have read and noted. I am aware that fracking is a controversial technique used to exploit unconventional sources of gas, such as shale gas and coal bed methane. I recognise that there are risks associated with unconventional gas extraction around the world impacting on water, health, the environment and climate change and I believe that an industry report confirmed that fracking was the likely cause of an earth tremor in Lancashire in 2011. In Scotland, there are complex licensing procedures already in place. To undertake fracking, a company must have a Petroleum Exploration and Development Licence (PEDL) which is issued by the UK Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC). In addition to this, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has specific responsibilities under the Water Environment (Controlled Activities) (Scotland) Regulations 2011 to consider any risks to the water environment. Controlled Activities Regulations Licences are only issued once SEPA has satisfied itself that any risks to the water environment are negated or within manageable tolerances. Onshore oil and gas extraction requires to be referenced in Local Development Plans (LDP) in order for developments to comply with Scottish Planning Policy, and companies who are planning to explore or extract unconventional gas will need to apply for planning permission. Local residents can, if they so wish submit objections to any planning applications. I believe that there are currently around 9 sites in Scotland with varying levels of activity, but most, at present, are largely exploratory. I am aware of Dart Energy’s planning application for the development of up to 22 well sites in the area around Airth which has been strongly opposed the local community. Both Falkirk and Stirling Council’s Planning Committees voted against this planning application in December 2013, which was subject to a public inquiry. I understand that the public inquiry began on 18 March and ran for three consecutive weeks. The Scottish Government Reporter agreed that the Inquiry would examine complex technical ground including potential public health and climate change impacts of the development. You may be aware that the Scottish Parliament’s Economy, Energy & Tourism Committee took evidence from Fergus Ewing MSP, the Energy Minister, in February 2012 on issues regarding the Scottish Government’s Energy Policy, which included fracking. For your information, I have provided a link below to the Official Report of the committee: scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28862.aspx?r=7448&mode=pdf It should be noted that fracking does not currently take place in Scotland. The Energy Minister made it clear during the Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee evidence session that shale gas will not form part of any assumptions included in the Scottish Government’s Energy Generation Policy Statement. No inclusion of shale gases have been included in the Scottish Government’s energy plans or in its energy modelling, as outlined in the draft Energy Generation Policy Statement published in March 2012, or in the final version of the Energy Generation Policy Statement, which was published in 2013. The Scottish Government has also made it clear that it has no plans to use its devolved powers to follow the UK Government’s plans for fracking. It is my understanding that there are currently no proposals which involve the use of fracking techniques in Scotland, and the Scottish Government has outlined that it will follow a rigorous evidence-based approach in the development and deployment of such technology. I believe that any applications for coalbed methane or shale gas projects in Scotland will be studied on their merits and each proposal will be considered through the normal planning process and the appropriate regulatory regimes. In addition, the recently published National Planning Framework 3 and Scottish Planning Policy has introduced tough new measures in relation to hydraulic fracking, including bringing in a requirement for buffer zones to ensure a development can only proceed if communities and the environment can be protected. I hope you will find this helpful. Yours sincerely Siobhan McMahon MSP Member of the Scottish Parliament for Central Scotland (Shes a labour one and I dont believe her. They will say anything plus not when Im getting calls from Greenpeace UK about I trust them over a labour MP) Anyone can shed some light?
Posted on: Mon, 06 Oct 2014 09:27:39 +0000
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