1. Fracking gas is not a clean fuel, but as bad as coal due to leakages to the air (4-8%) added to combustion CO2, according to the study in the scientific journal Climatic Change.
2. The Minerals Planning Policy Wales does give government guidance (contrary to the Planning Officers' report) and specifies “an environmentally acceptable way” of operation and being “consistent with the principles of sustainable development”. Unless these are demonstrated, the guidance says there's a “case in land use planning terms for placing more restrictions on the development” than ordinary local environmental safeguards.
3. The 29th Sept. letter to the VoG Leader from the First M|inister, Carwyn Jones, does give a strong steer:
- a “precautionary approach should be taken” and “additional environmental considerations” - presumably the wider ones of being consistent with sustainable development and the UK's carbon targets.
- a “precautionary approach should be taken” and “additional environmental considerations” - presumably the wider ones of being consistent with sustainable development and the UK's carbon targets.
4. As the Licensing system is unified, covering exploration, appraisal and development, the Vale Council could view an exploration application as the first part of a staged application. That would require a full environmental impact assessment, covering all the issues of injected water and chemicals, aquifer and well pollution, methane leakages, seismic tremors, etc. that objectors are bringing up. Indeed, it's irresponsible of the Vale officers to accept the exploration-only application.
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