Today we had Catrin O’Neill from the http://thevalesaysno.com/ campaign being interviewed at length on Radio Cardiff at lunchtime.
She was fantastic (bar a couple of minor factual inaccuracies) and cannot failed to have stirred up the listeners interest in the issue.

We have also got an excellent front page piece, followed up on page 3, of the GEM.

I will not be submitting any further call in requests for test drilling applications, for the time being at least. I will try again on Phase Two – exploratory wells – which will probably involve trial fracking ahead of Phase Three – full scale production.

Full text of letter received from WAG is below:

Dear Mr Chyba

TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING ACT 1990 – SECTION 77
CALL IN REQUEST
APPLICATION FOR PLANNING PERMISSION TO DRILL AND TEST THE INSITU
LOWER LIMESTONE SHALE AND ASSOCIATED STRATA
LAND AT UNIT 1, LLANDOW INDUSTRIAL ESTATE, COBRIDGE
APPLICATION NO. 2011100115/FUL

I refer to your earlier correspondence asking the Welsh Ministers to call in the planning
Application referred to in the title to this letter.

I have considered the issues associated with the application in the light of the Welsh
Assembly Government’s policy on call-in (detailed in Planning Policy Wales) and have
Concluded that they are not of more than local importance. 1 have informed the Vale of
Glamorgan Council that I do not consider that the application should be called in for
Determination by the Welsh Ministers. It is now for the Council to determine the application.

In reaching my decision 1 did not consider the planning merits of the proposed development
And my decision not to call in the application should not in any way be taken as a reflection
On the planning merits of the proposal. There are, however, two points I would like to make.

The first is that the decision not to call in this application is not, nor should it be construed
As, an indication of the view of the Welsh Ministers on the merits of this application or any
Future application for development associated with the extraction of shale gas. It is simply
An indication that the Welsh Ministers saw no reason to take the responsibility for the

Determination of this application out of the hands of the local planning authority.

The second is that should the applicants decide at a later stage that they wish to extract
Shale gas then they would have to submit not only a further, separate, application to the
Local planning authority for planning permission but also obtain any necessary licences or
Consents that may be required from other bodies eg Environment Agency Wales, Health
And Safety Executive.

Yours sincerely

S M JONES

Deputy Head,
Decisions Branch
Planning Division

Signed under authority of the Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing,
One of the Welsh Ministers

Part 1 – http://medialens.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=608:noble-war-in-libya-part-1&catid=24:alerts-2011&Itemid=68
Part 2 – http://medialens.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=section&layout=blog&id=1&Itemid=8

This in depth analysis of the intervention in Libya is spot on.
It also underlines the way our dependence on fossil fuels distorts our morality (something in common with the closer-to=home fracking issue).

Here is a small extract to whet your appetite:

The claim of noble intent is challenged by Western indifference to mass killing in Yemen and Bahrain using Western weapons. Cockburn writes in the Independent:

The worst verifiable atrocity in the Arab world in the past week was not in Libya but in Yemen, where pro-government gunmen machine-gunned an unarmed demonstration last Friday, killing 52 people.

Asked whether the United States still supported Yemens dictator, Ali Abdullah Saleh, or if it was time for him to go, US defence secretary Robert Gates said:

I don’t think it’s my place to talk about internal affairs in Yemen.

Saleh is an ally of the US against al-Qaeda, Eugene Robinson observes in the Washington Post, and therefore, is a useful tyrant. He gets nudges, not bombs.

He better remain so, as look what happened to Saddam Hussein when he stopped being a useful tyrant to West.

There was a short debate held in the House of Lords on 28th March in response to the question:
“What are the likely implications of the discovery of shale gas on United Kingdom energy policy.”
Transcript here: http://www.theyworkforyou.com/lords/?id=2011-03-28a.952.1

I find the level of misunderstanding, ignorance and complacency in this debate very worrying indeed.

Lord Marland’s light-hearted Call-my-bluff quips underline that, despite being Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Energy and Climate Change, he does not really know what he is talking about.

When asked ” Is the Minister satisfied that fracking is environmentally safe?” he replies, utterly erroneously: “It is hydraulic fracturing-sending in water and chemicals to discover whether there is shale gas there.” !!!

And he goes on to suggest the Environment Agency can be trusted to monitor any water issues.
He then goes on to state that exploratory work for these gas reserves is “largely in the area around Blackpool. I understand that there will be some investigation in Southport and on that coastline. I am not a geologist but it presumably links in some form to Morecambe Bay. That is largely the area that is being investigated.”
Hello!!!! Over here my Lord!

Baroness Smith of Basildon, clearly not satisfied, asks why not hold fire until after the Select Committee report is published, or the USEPA report on implications for humans and the environment.
Lord Marland replies: “We have evidence in the United States, as has been referenced. This has been going on for some time, so it is a proven technology. As I mentioned, the Environment Agency is on site to ensure that the process is taking place properly, so I am very comfortable with that. This is not a new technology. We have been using the fracking process in gas development for a very long time, so we have the safeguards in place.”

Lord Roxburgh raises one of my principal concerns about the whole business: “Does the Minister agree that some of the difficulties with shale gas exploitation in North America and elsewhere have arisen because of an unsatisfactory regulatory regime or through regimes being put into place too late? Is he satisfied that the existing regulatory regime that would cover shale gas exploitation in this country is adequate and derives full benefit from the experience of shale gas exploitation elsewhere?”
It seems patently obvious to me that relying on County Council Planning Departments and the Environment Agency is totally inadequate for these subterranean hydrology and geology issues. These are highly complex and specialised areas and all the independent expert testimony I can find suggests that this whole business is utter madness.
Lord Marland’s patronising response: “The noble Lord is a great expert in this field. However, we have been exploring gas in this country for many years and have a very long knowledge of it. We have extremely sound regulation, but that does not mean that we are complacent about it. We have a very sound industry structure that has stood the test of time, and a great deal of knowledge.”

Well, Lord Marland, I suspect the same is true of the French and the Germans, but it was reported yesterday that France has imposed a moratorium on shale gas development, while the German state of North Rhine Westphalia last week asked US ExxonMobil to hold off from fracking work until the end of the year while an expert opinion was prepared on possible impacts.
The same report informs us the the Cuadrilla site, near Blackpool, started using chemical fracking for the first time on Monday afternoon (28th March)
http://www.platts.com/RSSFeedDetailedNews/RSSFeed/NaturalGas/8720895

I was happy to accept the invitation to be the principal speaker. I outlined what is involved, what has been seen to go wrong and what is at stake. I stressed that this was an issue far beyond the immediate environs of Llandow and that even if this proposal was defeated, there will be more, and even those some distance away can pose threats. This has to be more than a NIMBY protest, and I think that was well understood by the end.

The people of Llandow are prepared to lead the way in making this the huge issue it needs to become. Another local resident has already booked a bigger venue in Llantwit Major, the LLantonian Hall, for another public meeting next Wednesday at 7pm. In light of the proposals that have come to light again in Bridgend CBC, near Llangynwyd/Bettws and Maesteg, we ought to strive to support this meeting and campaign. Let me know if any body would like a lift.

I have also initiated dialogue with St Donats Art Centre with a view to getting them to screen GASLAND in their cinema. This film graphically illustrates what is at stake and shows the lessons we need to learn from mistakes stateside. Details as and when I get them. The film is also available on DVD (hire: http://www.lovefilm.com/film/GasLand/158608/ ; buy: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Gasland-DVD-Josh-Fox/dp/B004CSKCT0/ref=sr_1_1?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1301402493&sr=1-1 )

I have formally requested the Call In of the Cwmdu, Maesteg proposal by WAG. Unfortunately, in undertaking this exercise, I uncovered another application for a site roughly half way between Llangynwyd and Bettws (if you draw a straight line between the two). This has got under my radar and was granted ‘temporary approval’ on 10th March. Temporary approval means, in this case, that they only have initial permission to operate for a period of three months after drilling commences.

Various press releases have been issued by Bridgend and the Vale Green Parties and the regional media, as well as the local media are beginning to sit up and take notice.
I missed this BBC Wales story at the time it was broadcast recently: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-12629093
This is a largely a rehash of an old newsnight story (posted before), but it was interesting to hear quotes from Bridgend based Coastal Oil & Gas Ltd. ‘Too deep to be a problem‘ they say. Absolute nonsense. ‘Fracking not responsible for the problems in North America’ they say. This denial of the evidence on a par with the flat earth nutters. ‘Potentially life changing’ they say. Spot on!! But not in the ways they mean, I suspect.

I have also been in dialogue with a Western Mail / South Wales Echo journalist, Peter Law, who is following the story, but with a curious focus just on just Llandow it seems. He is telling me that they will be running a story tomorrow (Wednesday). Look out for that.

More soon – no doubt!
Andy

This one was submitted by UK Methane Ltd back in November last year and was granted its approval on 10th March, just gone.

We really are going to have to think about how to deal with this situation from now on.

I have nade this point in my submissions:

The reason I initially wanted all coal bed methane applications called in should be becoming clear by now. We are facing a scattering of proposals that could occur at almost any random spot across the South Wales Coalfield area (and bit beyond), at any time and from a wide range of PEDL licence holders, across numerous planning authorities. Dealing with each one separately is crazy and is only going to increase the probability of nasty consequences somewhere. As the consequences are so far reaching, some joined up thinking is desperately needed.

The powers that be are still insisting that each separate application has be addressed individually. If they are not going to join up their thinking we will have to join up ours and work out how best to raise the profile of the issue.

Those of you who follow the blog site regularly will know that I have been actively campaigning against Fracking across South Wales for some time.
I have been assisting the Llandow pressure group and Vale Green Party organise and publicise the issue. This has led to a residents group calling the meeting below, to which I will be speaking.

You will know that Centrica withdrew its applications in Bridgend CBC, but I have recently become aware of an application in Maesteg by UK Methane Ltd on the site of the former St Johns Colliery. I will be looking in to this one very soon, but those of you in Maesteg ought to start getting up to speed and and think about what is at stake and what you want to do about it. Start by working through the fracking articles on the blog:
https://bridgendgreens.wordpress.com/?s=fracking (click on the headings to access the whole article).
Do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or for advice.

If anyone is free tomorrow, then support at the Llandow meeting would be much appreciated.
  

Andy Chyba
Bridgend Green Party
Mobile: 078 1066 3241
Email: greens@chyba.go-plus.net

My book THE ASYLUM OF THE UNIVERSE is availbale here:
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/AsylumoftheUniverse

——————————————————————————————

Good evening all,

Let me quote George’s concluding paragraph:

“Yes, I still loathe the liars who run the nuclear industry. Yes, I would prefer to see the entire sector shut down, if there were harmless alternatives. But there are no ideal solutions. Every energy technology carries a cost; so does the absence of energy technologies. Atomic energy has just been subjected to one of the harshest of possible tests, and the impact on people and the planet has been small. The crisis at Fukushima has converted me to the cause of nuclear power.”

Now read the whole article:

http://www.monbiot.com/2011/03/21/going-critical/

I have recognised the points he is making for a long time. There is a lot of ignorance about with regards to the potential to meet all our energy requirements through renewables alone. If climate change really is the biggest threat to mankind – and life on this planet as we know it – then as unpalatable as it may be, nuclear power cannot be dismissed out of hand. It could well be the lesser of the evils on offer.

Discuss!!

——————————————————————————

“The main aims relate to minerals planning as follows:

• Social progress which recognises the needs of everyone: to provide for the benefits of increased prosperity through an adequate supply of minerals that society needs now and in the future, together with protecting and improving amenity;

• Effective protection of the environment: to protect things that are highly cherished for their intrinsic qualities, such as wildlife, landscapes and historic features; and to protect human health and safety by ensuring that environmental impacts caused by mineral extraction and transportation are within acceptable limits; and to secure, without compromise, restoration and aftercare to provide for appropriate and beneficial after-use.”

We do not NEED these energy resources now.We need investment in the renewable energy that is recognised by all but the mineral industries. This is recognised elsewhere in the planning policies. These policies cannot protect or improve amenity. Quite the contrary. These proposals are incompatible with cherishing wildlife, human health and safety. Restoration and aftercare is an everlasting commitment in these cases – as pointed out by this Geology Professor: https://bridgendgreens.wordpress.com/2011/03/06/fracking-short-term-profit-against-long-term-costs/

MPPW – Section 7. Pays lip service to the complexity of issues relating to groundwater, but ends with this salient statement: “Mineral planning authorities ………, where doubt exists, should adopt the precautionary principle in taking planning decisions on mineral development.”. That there is doubt is unquestionable. That MPAs are adopting this principle is not evident. Were it the case, they would be exercising their right to request you to call in these applications.

MPPW – Section 33. “Irrespective of Agricultural Land Classification grade, other agricultural factors, such as farm structure, soil conservation, farm water supply, surface water and field drainage may be matters to take into account when appraising the full extent of mineral working, restoration and aftercare proposals. The objective should be, wherever possible, to minimise any adverse effects on agriculture occurring as a result of mineral development. These factors are likely to be particularly relevant where agriculture is to be the after use of the site.” The land adjacent to the Llandow site is farmed. The farmers extract their water from boreholes. Need I say more?

MPPW – Section 34. Environmental Impacts. Just about all the impacts seem to get discussed in minuted meetings except: “Land drainage, impact on groundwater resources and the prevention of pollution of water supplies.” It is patently obvious that this is because no one understands it properly enough to discuss it. Unfortunately, this is the number one risk!

MPPW – Sections 37/38 Environmental Impact Assessment. 37 requires developments that are likely to have significant effects on the environment to be subject to EIA. But then 38 sets criteria for significance that excuse planning authorities having to undertake it, irrespective of the environmental impacts, so long as surface area criteria are not exceeded. This is an utter nonsense for this sort of development, where the surface impacts can be modest, but the underground impacts can be catastrophic.

MPPW – Section 64 – Onshore oil and gas. ” Where oil and gas operations can be carried out in an environmentally acceptable way and consistent with the principles of sustainable development, there is no case in land use planning terms for placing more restrictions on the development than are necessary to ensure the protection of the environment.”  “Policies should distinguish clearly between the three stages of exploration, appraisal and development”. These two statements are blurring the issues. Initial exploration, and even, perhaps, the appraisal stage, may not be using the hazardous fracking process required in the development stage of these operations. It is a bit like encouraging people to go out and find a suitable tree; practice their hangsman noose knots and then tell them not to kill themselves. The whole enterprise has to be discouraged. The companies themselves are not going to thank anyone for being allowed to invest in exploration and appraisal only to be told that development is unacceptable. It is only fair to all concerned to evaluate the likely impacts of the development in informing a decision on exploration and appraisal applications.

MPPW – Section 65 – Coal bed methane. “Coalbed methane extraction equipment is similar to that for conventional gas reservoirs but coalbed methane is more difficult to extract particularly from virgin coal seams because of the low permeability of coal. There are additional environmental considerations associated with coalbed methane extraction: • the environmental impacts of exploration, development, operation and restoration of coalbed methane wells which may have a relatively long productive life of 30 years or more; • coalbed methane extraction usually entails many more wells than conventional gas; • the disposal of water produced during well stimulation and gas production which may vary in contamination; and • adverse effects on subsurface resources such as groundwater.” So the issues are again given this lip service, but with no guidance about how to tackle this more difficult process and additional environmental considerations. These proposals should therefore  be called in to establish exactly how this contentious process be handled by planning authorities, who are literally out of their depth.

2. BEYOND THE IMMEDIATE LOCALITY

The mere nature of the proposals makes this self-evident. They are not going to simply drill straight down. They are steering drills into horizontal (or near horizontal) beds that extend many hundreds of metres away from the surface site, under other peoples’ land (which may not even be in the local authority area that allows the proposal). Once fluids are put into the ground, they can access the water cycle and thereby have no bounds at all. This is even before we mention the issue global warming and fossil fuels.

The reason I initially wanted all coal bed methane applications called in should be becoming clear by now. We are facing a scattering of proposals that could occur at almost any random spot across the South Wales Coalfield area (and  bit beyond), at any time and from a wide range of PEDL licence holders, across numerous planning authorities. Dealing with each one separately is crazy and is only going to increase the probability of nasty consequences somewhere. As tghe consequences are so far reaching, some joined up thinking is desperately needed. Surely that is grounds for calling in.

3. SUBSTANTIAL CONTROVERSY BEYOND THE IMMEDIATE LOCALITY

These proposals are controversial everywhere they happen. The Green Party of England & Wales have passed emergency motions condemning all such proposals and pledgeing to fight them. I am at the vanguard of this campaign. I personally pledge substantial controversy. We are helping co-ordinate local (https://bridgendgreens.wordpress.com/2011/03/14/llandow-fracking-action-group/), regional ( http://www.greenparty.org.uk/region/wales/news/fracking-vale-of-glamorgan.html) , national ( https://bridgendgreens.wordpress.com/2011/03/02/press-release-green-party-emergency-resolution-on-fracking/ ) and international ( http://www.gaslandthemovie.com/take-action/ ) opposition to fracking.

4. NATURE CONSERVATION ISSUES

The Heritage Coast would be affected by any surface run-off. This could especially impact on Cwm Colhuw Wildlife Trust Reserve. Worney wood Woodland Trust Reserve is also nearby.

5. NATIONAL SECURITY

National energy security could be best served by leaving such reserves well alone for possible future needs in case of real emergency.

6. NOVEL PLANNING ISSUES

As I have indicated elsewhere, above, there are are number aspects to these proposals that make them challenging for the the existing planning structures. The fact that these are highly technical underground issues is the the reason there have been so many calamitous ‘mishaps’ in other parts of the world (especially thae USA). The fact that the really dangerous practices do come into the equation until well into the development phase in most cases, means that the conventional approaches  are inappropriate. The consequences, even then, can take some time to manifest themselves. Thus we are asking inadequately trained officials to pass judgement on things that may not have consequences either in their geographical area of jurisdiction, or in the timeframe of their period of office. If these are not novel planning issues, what are?

Call in these proposals. Get thorough environmental impact assessments from appropriate experts in the field. Get the conflicts ad issues  with national planning policies resolved or adjudicated on by the WAG. Only then can these proposals be approved and us know who to hold accountable if and, more likely, when things go wrong.

Yours sincerely,

Andy Chyba