Member Article

Fracking report welcomed by Chartered Institute of Environmental Health

A new report by Public Health England on the impact of fracking has been welcomed by the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH).

Lord Howell of Guildford, a former energy secretary and father-in-law to George Osbourne, caused a storm last summer when he said fracking should be carried out in the North East, where there are large, “desolate” areas.

The majority of land in the region is said to be under consideration for the controversial gas extraction method, which is condemned by environmentalists.

There are currently three existing drilling licences in the North of England – in the area between Middlesbrough and Redcar, the area below Castleton in the North Yorkshire Moors and above Carlisle in Cumbria – but most of the North East and west coast of Cumbria is said to be under consideration.

Newcastle, Sunderland, South Tyneside, North Tyneside, Teesside and Northumberland including Rothbury and Amble are all areas being considered by energy companies for future exploration.

Public Health England (PHE) has published a report on the potential public health impacts of exposure to chemical and radioactive pollutants as a result of fracking, claiming it can increase groundwater radioactivity, but not above exposure limits set for human health in the UK.

CIEH Chief Executive Graham Jukes said: “We don’t object to shale gas extraction provided the impacts and remediation of those impacts are fully understood and taken into account and this report is an important contribution to the information base surrounding this process.

“It is important to note that the report explicitly does not look at the sustainable use of water resources or local environment issues such as noise and odours, nor the socio economic benefits or impacts of extraction to local communities.

“Nevertheless, the key message from the report is that on the currently available evidence the potential risks to public health from the emissions associated with shale gas extraction will be low if the operations are properly run within a framework of robust environmental regulation.”

The CIEH has consistently made the case for a full environmental impact assessment to be carried out on all shale gas extraction proposals before permission to drill is given.

Mr Jukes added: “In the enthusiasm to exploit new sources of energy we must ensure that there are no unacceptable adverse impacts on the environment or on the health of people in the communities surrounding extraction sites.

“Despite central government encouragement for the process, local authorities should resist allowing shale gas extraction in their areas until they are satisfied on that.”

Mandatory environmental impact assessment which the CIEH would support is not a recommendation in the report, the CIEH added in a statement.

Mr Jukes added: “We will shortly be publishing a report which reviews current evidence across a number of aspects associated with this process including environmental and public health aspects and socio economic considerations.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Martin Walker .