‘Ban coalbed methane extraction near residential areas’

THE Scottish Government should follow the lead of New South Wales and ban the controversial extraction of coalbed methane within a 2km exclusion zone of residential areas, a leading environmental campaign group has said.

Such a move would block the disputed gas development at Letham Moss, near Airth, where Australian energy giant Dart Energy, is drilling for coalbed methane, Friends of the Earth Scotland (FoES) have said.

The project in the Forth Valley is the company’s most advanced European venture and the technique being used is similar to fracking.

Local protests against the development are underway with concerns raised about the threat to housing, tourism and leisure. In December Network Rail warned the practice could lead to an explosion beside one of Scotland’s busiest mainline railways.

Last month Barry O’Farrell, the Premier of New South Wales, and his deputy Andrew Stoner, announced tough new measures to further regulate the coal seam gas (CSG) industry.

The main measure is a 2km exclusion zone which is being imposed around residential zones to prevent coal seam gas exploration, assessment and production activities.

Mr O’Farrell said he had declared country towns and suburbs as “no go zones” for CSG activities in NSW.

“The NSW Government has listened to community concerns about CSG - these new measures build on what are already the toughest controls in the country.”

Mary Church, campaigns co-ordinator at FoES, which wants an outright ban on the process, said: “We know that we don’t need this gas and can’t afford to burn it without causing irreversible damage to the climate. We also know that in countries

where the industry is more developed, such as Australia and the USA, unconventional gas extraction is increasingly linked to serious local environmental and health problems.

“The Scottish Government should ban all unconventional gas extraction, at least until it has been proven beyond doubt that the many environmental and health impacts of these new extraction techniques can be fully

mitigated.

“The Government in New South Wales has recently banned any coalbed methane extraction within 2km of residential areas. If a similar ban were in place in Scotland, there’s no way Dart Energy’s development at Airth could go ahead. Communities in Scotland deserve the same protection as communities in Australia from this very uncertain and potentially very destructive industry.”

A spokesman for the Scottish Government said: “A Scottish Government spokesman said: “In Scotland we need a diverse and balanced energy portfolio to provide us with secure and affordable heat and electricity for decades to come.

“Many alternative energy sources including shale gas, tight gas and coal-bed methane may offer potential, but should only be pursued as long as development and use is consistent with environmental objectives.

“Any operator wishing to develop onshore gas in Scotland needs to seek planning permission, and of course the usual public notification and consultation processes apply.

“In relation to onshore drilling activities we have robust licensing, planning permissions, permit regimes and monitoring arrangements currently in place. All operators must comply with the relevant health and safety and environmental regulations in the execution of their activities.”