The Telegraph: Environmental risks of the shale gas industry need constant monitoring
Peter Foster argues that in Britain we should all pay attention to the story of shale gas extraction in Pennsylvania, where public fear centres on environmental pollution issues (“Now for the downside of fracking”, Comment, February 20).
I am chairman of a joint working group of The Royal Academy of Engineering and The Royal Society that published a joint review last year of the health, safety and environmental risks associated with hydraulic fracturing. The report concluded that these risks can be managed in Britain, but only if operational best practices are implemented and enforced through strong regulation. The Department of Energy and Climate Change has now accepted all of the review’s recommendations, including making environmental risk assessments mandatory for all shale gas operations.
Environmental risks must be assessed across the life cycle of shale gas operations, including water use and waste disposal, seismicity, and the abandonment of wells after operations have ceased. Local communities must participate in these assessments from the outset.
Your article referred to the widespread concern in America about the environmental impact of fracking, and noted cases of improper operational practices. Poorly constructed wells could lead to instances of contamination. That is why our joint academies’ review also recommended improvements to Britain’s independent regulation of well design and construction to ensure the highest levels of well integrity. MORE