OPINION: A mining method set for use in Lough Allen may be a risk to health, food quality and landscape
TWO COMPANIES – the Australian-based Tamboran Resources and Lough Allen Natural Gas Company (Langco) – currently hold exploration licensing options for onshore gas in the Lough Allen basin area. The acreage concerned covers an area including parts of seven counties. Similar licences have been granted covering areas of Co Fermanagh in the North. Tamboran has been promoting the potential benefits of commercial gas production and recently held a series of public meetings in the northwest. It has stated that hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”) may start on a “test” basis as early as 2013 in the Republic.
Fracking is increasingly controversial. After a campaign mounted by the farming community, fracking has been banned in France. Moratoria are also in place in the North Rhine Westphalia area of Germany, in a number of states in the US, in areas of Australia and in South Africa. The Environmental Protection Agency in the US has been forced by the volume of reports of negative environmental and health impacts to conduct an investigation of its effects. Their report will not appear until the end of 2014. In the UK, fracking has been suspended because of small earthquakes in the vicinity of test drills.
Tamboran has stated that they resolve not to use chemical additives in the water to be used in the fracking process. Such a process is completely unproven in an industrial context. This has been acknowledged by Tamboran. In respect of this, critics point to the fact that a lot of the environmental risks created by the process are independent of chemical use.
After a well is fracked, a process which involves the use of large volumes of water combined with sand and chemical additives, between 10-40 per cent of the fracking fluid returns to the surface carrying toxic heavy metals and volatile organic compounds and, in some cases, radioactive elements from deep underground. Fracking wastewater contains high concentrations of sodium, chloride, bromide, arsenic, barium and other heavy metals. The make-up of the wastewater, whether or not chemical additives are used in the fracking, makes it impossible to treat for human consumption under traditional methods.
Tamboran argues that the development of such an industry will create badly needed jobs. Critics point to the potential for the industrialisation of the landscape and the attendant risks of pollution of air, water and land impacting negatively on existing employment in the agriculture and tourism sectors.
Industrial-scale geographically dispersed fracking may severely damage the northwest’s potential to attract tourists. The perception (and reality) of a region as an industrial landscape may outlast the employment benefits of gas drilling. Increased truck traffic, air pollution, noise pollution, industrial accidents, negative visual impacts, disruptions to fishing grounds, and fears over lake and stream pollution will change the character to gritty and industrial. Once the Lough Allen Basin becomes known for methane smells, industrial compressor stations, loud noise, well flare-offs, bad roads, deteriorating poisonous water quality and massive truck traffic, the word will get out and the area will no longer be the wonderful “natural” vacation destination it is now. The industrialisation may also hit land and property values.
Fracking increases the risk of toxic heavy metals present deep underground being released into the environment. Crops may absorb these metals, which may then enter the food chain. These heavy metals can accumulate in body tissues and cause serious damage. Mercury, for example, is a potent neurotoxin. Eating food grown in soils contaminated with heavy metals poses serious health risks. The implications of these risks for agricultural producers in the northwest may be severe. If farms go out of business, local businesses that function to support farms will also go out of business. The effects of fracking will not be limited to only those farmers who choose to lease their lands to Tamboran.
Tamboran says it is dealing proactively with relevant regulatory bodies on both sides of the Border. Critics say there are severe problems with the quality of drinking water in Ireland. Regulators have already failed visibly in this regard.
Until it can be proven fracking will cause no environmental or social damage, the precautionary principle must apply. Thousands have signed a petition online calling for an immediate ban.
Their concerns need to be addressed urgently by legislators on both sides of the Border.
Leah Doherty is a participant in the No Fracking Ireland network