Environment Agency ‘minded to grant’ fracking permit

THE Environment Agency (EA) said it is “minded to grant” energy firm Cuadrilla Resources permits to frack at one of its exploration sites in Lancashire.

Following a consultation the agency has issued a “draft decision” outlining the conditions under which it would allow fracking at Roseacre Wood, north of Kirkham.

A second round of consultation will run until January 6 but the final decision will rest with Lancashire County Council.

Fracking uses water and chemicals to release gas by fracturing the shale bed. Environmentalists argue this can cause water and air pollution and Cuadrilla tests in 2011 were linked to two earthquakes near Blackpool. This led to a moratorium while the Government assessed the safety of the technique.

In May and June Cuadrilla submitted plans to drill, frack and test the flow of gas at Roseacre Wood and at a site at Preston New Road, Little Plumpton. The company had hoped to start work in the autumn but in October the council said it neede dmore time and pushed back the determination dates of both applications from November to January 31 and December 31 respectively.

Chief executive Francis Egan said: “The decision, following a robust and rigorous review of our permit applications, demonstrates that, as we have committed, the local environment will be well protected throughout our proposed exploratory operations.”