Global news: Frack or fiction?

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The Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment (PCE), Dr Jan Wright, published a report last week about the practice of fracking. "Injecting chemicals into the ground to crack the earth far below our feet," reads the report, "seems to be a case of human hubris - that ancient Greek word denoting extreme arrogance and lack of humility." Fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, is described by the PCE as the process of "injecting fluid containing sand and chemicals at high pressure to fracture rock".

The report concludes that "environmental risks associated with fracking can be managed effectively provided, to quote to the United Kingdom Royal Society, 'operational best practices are implemented and enforced through regulation.' But at this stage I cannot be confident that operational best practices are actually being implemented and enforced in this country."

The report highlights some of the major fracking issues, including the pollution of groundwater by volumes of salty water that are excavated during the process, as well as the chemicals found in the fracking fluid itself.

It also shows that while fracking can cause earthquakes, they are usually very minor ones. Although the report also states that if liquids associated with fracking - namely the wastewater or fracking fluid - make their way into an already stressed fault, they can cause larger earthquakes.

Significantly, the report notes that government oversight and regulation of fracking "is complex and fragmented... and important issues can fall between the cracks." It also states that companies are "being trusted rather too much to all do 'the right thing'".

The report also outlines that fracking could increase due to global warming pressures. The natural gas, which is extracted in the process, is, according to the report "the most benign of the fossil fuels." Its use could therefore be justified by climate change reduction as "it allows coal to be phased out and can act as a 'transition' fuel to a low-carbon future." However, the report does point out that increasing fracking will "continue to lock the world into a fossil fuel future and crowd out investment in alternative sources of energy."

Despite Dr Wright's conclusion that fracking can be achieved in a safe manner, Frack Free Aotearoa have called for a ban on the practice, citing radioactive contamination risks which have not been properly investigated and the impact on human and animal health.

A 16-strong alliance of hapu, businesses and environmental groups, including Frack Free Aotearoa, have signed the Community Joint Statement on Fracking which requests a ban or moratorium on fracking in Aotearoa. The Statement, issued in response to the report, outlines the major concerns of the group:
1) water, air and soil health;
2) incompatibility with industries that are dependent on a clean, green environment;
and
3) climate change driven by fossil fuels.

A recent press release from Frack Free Aotearoa stated that a moritorium needs to be but in place because the practice is just too risky.

"Radioactive isotopes such as radium 226 and radium 224 are present in deep rock formations worldwide. We know radioactive particles are brought to the surface in flow back fluid and sludge in the USA because the correct testing has been carried out there and untreated or partially treated fluids have been discharged into streams and rivers, often upstream from water supply intakes," said Frack Free Aotearoa spokesperson Robyn Harris-Iles.

"Reports from the USA Environmental Protection Agency and others show the level of radioactivity in fracking wastewater has sometimes been hundreds or even thousands of times the maximum allowed by the federal standard for drinking water."

Fracking has been used for 23 years in Taranaki. According to Frack Free Aotearoa, the environmental repercussions of fracking in the area has been considerable:

"Fracking wastewater and sludge has been spread on dairy farms in Taranaki for twenty years but the Taranaki Regional Council does not test 'landfarm' sites for barium, strontium, radium 226 or other dangerous radioactive isotopes in land where dairy cows are put to pasture, or in waterways that could be contaminated," the press release read.

"Until last year, wastewater and sludge in Taranaki was stored in unlined pits where seepage into the groundwater aquifer could occur. Contamination of soil and shallow groundwater has been identified at the Shell Todd Kapuni site to the extent the groundwater can no longer be used for human or animal consumption or for irrigation. While lining wastewater pits might alleviate the problem to some extent, linings can disintegrate or tear and evidence from the USA shows this is not a foolproof method of preventing seepage".

According to Radio NZ, Gareth Hughes, Green Party energy spokesperson, also called for a moritorium on fracking and said he was disappointed by the report.

"The Parliamentary Commissioner herself can't be confident that we do have regulation in force as best practice. So until that question is clarified, and all the other large number of questions are answered, we think it would be responsible to have a moratorium given we're on the cusp of a massive expansion."

Although Dr Wright's report did not call for a ban, it noted that more regulation and oversight in the industry is required. A further report from the commissioner is expected mid-2013 which will make formal policy recommendations.

To make up your own mind, read the report in detail here and see the Community Joint Statement on Fracking here.